Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar on Wednesday said India should not "bother" if the proposed Indo-US civil nuclear agreement does not come through and also asserted that New Delhi would not accept any proposal that does not allow reprocessing of spent fuel.
"I have only told you what the Indian position is. If within that...If everything...There is an agreement, it will come very soon. If it (the deal) doesn't (come through), don't bother. Indian programme is going on," Kakodkar, also Secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy, said when asked how soon he expects the deal to come through.
On reported US concerns regarding spent fuel and whether the issue has been resolved, he said New Delhi is not going to accept anything, which does not allow reprocessing.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Emergency Response Centre at Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research in Bangalore, he said spent fuel cannot be left as spent fuel in perpetuity.
"That's part of Indian policy. We have adopted the closed nuclear fuel cycle which is getting broader...Worldwide recognition...That it's the correct strategy. So, we are not going to accept where there is no recycle of the plutonium and uranium that's there in the spent fuel because it's required even from environmental point of view and even from the point of view of credible waste management. Recycling of spent fuel is important. We are not going to accept anything which does not allow (reprocessing)," he said.