Jassaur Kheri (Jhajjar), January 3
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today strongly favoured nuclear power as a “dependable and clean option”. He said the country was aiming to generate more than 27,000 MW of nuclear power in the next 10 years.

He underlined the need to ensure that all ingredients by which nuclear fuel is made remain safe and do not fall in the hands of terrorists and anti-social elements.

The PM was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of Global Centre for Nuclear Energy here. Accompanied by Union minister for Health Gulam Nabi Azad, Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the PM also laid foundation stones of National Cancer Institute and Government Girls’ College, Jassaur Kheri.

“Even as we have devised the best security measures in keeping with international standards, the nuclear research centre will help in devising new methods through participation in national and international seminars to be attended by acclaimed global nuclear scientists,” said the PM. “Keeping in view the urbanisation, we need adequate resources of power. And India is one of the prominent countries to have developed techniques of nuclear power plants and production of nuclear fuel. We are expecting 27,000-MW electricity from nuclear power plants in the next decade,” the PM said. National Cancer Institute will be spread over 50 acres. The 710-bed institute will cost Rs 2,035 crore in the first phase and will be ready in 45 months. It will work under the aegis of AIIMS, Delhi. Azad said the OPD of AIIMS-II being constructed over 300 acres at Bhadsa village in Jhajjar had already started functioning.