Five to seven sites identified to set up nuclear parks

The government on Friday said it has identified five to seven sites to set up nuclear parks, each with a capacity to house at least six atomic power plants.

"The site selection committee has identified five to seven sites to establish nuclear parks. One or more American parks can come up at these sites," Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan said in New Delhi.

Of the identified sites, one or more may house reactors purchased from the United States, under the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said.

Chavan said the sites have to be cleared by the Cabinet and the proposal could not be discussed at some recent Cabinet meetings as Prime Minister Minister Manmohan Singh is unwell.

The prime minister is in-charge of the Department of Atomic Energy. The Indian nuclear renaissance will see several nuclear parks coming up across the country each having four to six atomic plants, Chavan said.

While Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu is being developed in collaboration with Russia, French company Areva has been allocated Jaitapur in Maharashtra to set up nuclear power plants, he said.

Chavan also said the government was exploring possibilities of acquiring uranium mines in other countries to ensure fuel supply for nuclear reactors in the country.