Website : ISSN-09929-5523 Nuclear India

1Nuclear India vol.40/ no.3-4/2006

Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at theVariable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata

Geared to address the basic questions regarding the nature of nuclear interaction, the origin of elements in theuniverse and the structure and properties of nuclei, the physics of Radioactive Ion Beams (RIB) is the emergingfrontier in nuclear physics and allied sciences. Technologically, the development of a RIB facility is extremelychallenging and so is the development of special detectors/ experimental facilities for the use of the beams.

DAE’s Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre in Kolkata had undertaken in the year 1998, a project to develop anISOL type Radioactive Ion Beam facility. Notable progress has been made that includes commissioning of sophisticatedlow beta radiofrequency quadrupole accelerator (RFQ). An online ECR (electron-cyclotron-resonance) source hasbeen a major achievement of this project. In the RFQ, radioactive ion beams will be accelerated to about 86 keV/u.

The advantage of using RIB is twofold. First is the huge increase in the number of available beams. Theexpected number of RIB would be around 2000 as compared to about 200 at present. Second is the substantialimprovement in the signal to background ratio vis-a-vis the production of exotic nuclei.

Nuclear IndiaVOL. 40/No. 3-4/Sep-Oct. 2006

Website : http://www.dae.gov.in ISSN-09929-5523


Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC) celebrated the GoldenJubilee of its research reactorAPSARA, the first nuclear researchreactor in the whole of Asia. OnAugust 4, 1956, at 1545 hours,APSARA had attained criticality. Thiswas a historic event marking thebeginning of nuclear era in India. Theprogramme depicted the majorcontributions this reactor has made inthe country’s nuclear programme andthe future plans for the reactor, thathas served as the cradle for thedevelopment of nuclear reactortechnology in the country

The design of APSARA, a pooltype reactor, using enriched uraniumfuel was conceptualized in 1955 byDr.Homi Jehangir Bhabha, thearchitect of the Indian nuclearprogramme. This event marked thebeginning of the success story ofIndian Nuclear Programme.

Later, on January 20, 1957, thereactor was dedicated to the nationand named as ‘APSARA’ by PanditJawaharlal Nehru.

Over the years, the reactor hasimmensely contributed towardsdevelopment of nuclear powerprogramme, research in the frontierareas of basic sciences and fulfillmentof societal needs.

The production of radioisotopes inthe country had commenced with thecommissioning of APSARA. Theexperience gained in irradiation,handling and processing of isotopesproduced at this reactor played a vitalrole in the development of currentinfrastructure for production andapplication of radioisotopes. Theradioisotopes are finding everincreasing use in the field of medicinefor diagnosis and therapy and in

industry for radiography, in addition tomany other applications such assterilization of medical products, foodpreservation, pipeline inspection etc.Radiation processing of a largenumber of biological samples atAPSARA and systematic studies ondifferent crop plants has enabledscientists to study growth simulation,post-irradiation storage effects, role ofinduced radioactivity, combinedeffects of chemical mutagens andneutron irradiation leading to thedevelopment of several high yielding,disease resistant crop varieties.

The experiments related to neutroninduced fission, diffusion kinetics offission product gases, reactivitymeasurements, neutron radiographyfor characterization of nuclear fuel andstructural materials, two phase flowvisualization, neutron detectordevelopment and radiation shieldinghave yielded important design inputsfor the present generation ofpressurised heavy water reactors,prototype fast breeder reactor andadvanced heavy water reactor.

In addition to the abovetechnological developments, a vastnumber of studies have also beenperformed in the area of basicsciences such as neutron scattering,neutron and gamma-ray emissionstudies and neutron activation analysisfor characterization of materials andfor forensic investigations.

Now, BARC plans to upgrade thereactor from its present power levelof 1000 kW to 2000 kW. Theupgraded reactor will use low enricheduranium as fuel, in line with the currentinternational practices. After theupgradation, APSARA reactor isexpected to serve our programme formany more years.

On the occasion of the GoldenJubilee celebrations, Shri S.K.Sharma,Chairman, AERB released acommemorative brochure onAPSARA. The Chief Executives ofsome of the units of DAE delineatedthe linkage between the researchcarried out in BARC and the industrialactivities being pursued by their units.Shri S.K.Jain, CMD, Nuclear PowerCorporation of India Ltd (NPCIL)described the R&D support of BARCto the nuclear power programme, ShriS.C.Hiremath, Chief Executive,Heavy Water Board (HWB)elaborated upon technology transfer,Shri R. Gupta, CMD, UraniumCorporation of India Ltd. (UCIL)outlined the indigenous efforts ofmining and mineral processing ofuranium ores and Shri R.N. Jayaraj,Chief Executive, Nuclear FuelComplex (NFC) highlighted thelinkages of fuel developmentprogramme with the research inBARC. The event was graced byseveral senior scientists who wereintimately connected with the design,development, commissioning andsubsequent operation and utilization ofAPSARA.

APSARA completes 50 years

Reactor Type Swimmingpool type

Reactor Power (Th) 1 MW

Fuel Material EnrichedUranium -Aluminium alloy

Fuel Cladding Aluminium alloyWeight of Fuel 4.5 kg

Core Size 560x 560x 615 mm

Max Neutron Flux 1013n/cm2/sec

Moderator Light waterCoolant Light water

Shut off Rods Cadmium

Specifications


Mr. President,Kindly accept our congratulations

on behalf of my Government and onmy own behalf on your election as thePresident of the 50th GeneralConference. I am sure, under yourable leadership and with the supportof your team and the Secretariat ofthe Agency, this General Conferencewill be able to accomplish the tasksbefore it.

I take this opportunity to welcomethe entry of the Republic of Palau, theRepublic of Mozambique, the Republicof Malawi and the Republic ofMontenegro to the Membership ofIAEA.

Let me also use this occasion toonce again congratulate Director-General Dr.Mohamed ElBaradei andthe Agency for the well deservedNobel Peace Prize.

Mr. President,I would like to begin with a

message from our Prime MinisterDr. Manmohan Singh to this fiftiethsession of the General Conference ofthe Agency and I Quote:

Quote“I am happy to convey my

greetings to Members of theInternational Atomic Energy Agency,its Director-General, and members ofIAEA Secretariat on the occasion ofthis 50th General Conference. Overthe past five decades, the Agency has

made commendable progress infulfilling its objectives as laid down inits Statute. The Nobel Peace Prizeawarded to Dr. ElBaradei and theAgency last year is a timely and welldeserved tribute to the IAEA’scontribution.

The International Atomic EnergyAgency is an unique organization inthe entire UN system, founded on astrong science base and dedicated tospreading understanding of andknowledge about the benefits of

atomic energy in a safe and securemanner, with special attention to thoseareas of the world wheredevelopmental needs and aspirationsare yet to be fulfilled and are thereforemost pressing. With issues related toenergy resource sustainabilityassuming increasing salience andglobal climate change looming largeas arguably the most serious challengeof our time, atomic energy with its

immense energy potential and readilyavailable and deployable technologieshas become an inevitable andindispensable part of the solution.

Nuclear energy being unique in itsability to regenerate more fuel fromuranium and thorium several ten-foldswhile producing energy, offers us thepossibility of meeting global energyrequirements in a non-polluting andsustainable manner. However, if weare to be successful in realizing thepotential of the atom in meeting our

needs, we need to act in concertconsistent with the spirit of globalharmony and adhering to ourrespective international commitments.The IAEA and Director-Generaldeserve high compliments forensuring that the Agency is aneffective platform for the globalcommunity to work together in itsnoble mission of ‘atoms for peace andprosperity’. India, home to one-sixth

International Atomic Energy Agency, 50thGeneral Conference, Vienna, 20th September2006, Statement by Dr. Anil Kakodkar,Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission andLeader of the Indian Delegation

“ We believe that future enhancement of the share of nuclear energy as a cleanenergy source is possible and feasible in a manner that satisfies the imperatives of

nuclear safety and security. Let us therefore resolve that we would pool ourscientific and technological abilities together in finding holistic solutions so that the

next 50 years are seen as the golden period of nuclear energy development inmeeting global energy needs. …”


of the world population and havingembarked on a rapid economic growthpath, has a strong interest in utilizingthe full potential of atomic energy fornational development. I am confidentthis will be realized, based on ournatural endowment of vast thoriumresources and the development ofeffective technologies for theirutilization.

We have developed advancedtechnological capability based on ourown self-reliant efforts, while havingmaintained an unblemished record ofresponsible behaviour. I am glad thatthe emerging possibility for expandingcivil nuclear cooperation betweenIndia and the international communitywould supplement and complementour domestic efforts to meet thedevelopmental aspirations of ourpeople through additional nuclearenergy inputs. We look forward tocooperating with international partnersin realizing this possibility.

While nuclear power is of crucialimportance for sustainabledevelopment, of equal significance areother peaceful applications of atomicenergy. The Agency’s Programme ofAction for Cancer Therapy (PACT)is one such important effort which Iam happy to learn is being givenspecial emphasis. India havingdeveloped significant experience inaffordable cancer-relatedprogrammes has been supporting thisactivity actively, and would be pleasedto offer a recently developedCobalt-60 teletherapy machine(Bhabhatron) as a contribution to theAgency’s PACT.

It is my hope that the fiftiethsession of the General Conferencewould be an important milestone in theongoing and future work of theAgency. I wish you all productivedeliberations and progress in yourimportant tasks. My greetings andgood wishes to all.”

Unquote

Mr. President,The Agency and the Department

of Atomic Energy, India, have tracedhistory together. This year is also the50th year of the Bhabha AtomicResearch Centre, (BARC), thepremier nuclear research centre inIndia. Dr. Homi Bhabha, the founderof the Indian Atomic EnergyProgramme, was the President of thefirst Geneva Conference on ‘Peacefuluses of Atomic Energy’ held duringAugust 1955.

Mr. President,The activities in atomic energy in

India continue to make progress inaccordance with the well establishedthree stage nuclear powerprogramme. Units 3 and 4 of theTarapur Atomic Power Station, whichare the 540 MWe indigenouslydesigned and built Pressurised HeavyWater Reactor (PHWR) systems, arenow in commercial operation. Onemore 220 MWe PHWR unit at Kaigawould also become operational beforethe end of this financial year. TheGovernment of India has recentlyapproved pre-project activities on eightreactor units at four different siteswith a total power generation capacityof 6800 MWe. With the completionof these Units alongwith other Unitsthat are already under construction,the total nuclear power generationcapacity in India would reach around14000 MWe.

We now have sixteen reactor unitswith a total capacity of 3900 MWe inoperation. Unit-I of Kakrapar AtomicPower Station had a recordcontinuous operation of 372 daysbefore it was shut down for mandatoryinspection. The average duration ofoutage of biennial shutdown has nowbeen reduced to just 26 days.

Major upgrades for ageingmanagement and safety werecompleted on three PHWR units.The safety upgrades at the two BoilingWater Reactors that startedcommercial operations in 1969, were

completed in just four and a halfmonths. The replacement of allreactor feeders of one of our PHWRswas accomplished for the first time inthe world. One of our latest 540 MWePHWRs was offered for pre-start-uppeer review by an expert team ofWANO. This was the first everreview of its kind in Asia. We arenow ready for implementation of thenewly designed 700 MWe PHWRunits which would enable furthersignificant reduction in the capital costper MWe of indigenous PHWR units.

India considers a closed nuclearfuel cycle of crucial importance forimplementation of its three stagenuclear power programme with itslong-term objective of tapping vastenergy available in Indian thoriumresources, based on development ofeffective technologies for theirutilisation. This is central to India’svision of energy security and theGovernment is committed to its fullrealisation through development anddeployment of technologies pertainingto all aspects of a closed nuclear fuelcycle.

As a part of our developmentefforts in high level radioactive wastemanagement technologies, Indiaachieved two major landmarks thisyear namely (i) hot commissioningof Advanced Vitrification System(AVS) which employs Joule-heatedceramic melter and (ii) demonstrationof Cold Crucible VitrificationTechnology.

The Fast Breeder Test Reactor(FBTR) at Kalpakkam, which hasbeen the foundation of our fast reactorprogramme, has shown excellentperformance with an availabilityfactor of over 90% in the last fewcampaigns. The unique U-Pu mixedcarbide fuel used in FBTR hasreached a record burn-up of 154.3GWd/t without a single fuel pin failure.This achievement has been possiblethrough a combination of stringent fuelspecifications, quality control during


fabrication and inputs obtained fromthe detailed post irradiationexamination of fuel at different stagescombined with the modeling of thebehaviour of the fuel clad and wrappermaterials. This year, we haveproposed to introduce mixed oxide fuelwith 45% Pu in FBTR in order toincrease the power level as well as toprovide experience on the behaviourof high Pu content oxide fuel in fastreactors. Last year I had informed thatthe carbide fuel discharged fromFBTR at a burn up of up to 100 GWd/t had been successfully reprocessed.This experience in the reprocessingcampaigns have provided significantinputs to the design of the equipmentand flow sheet for the DemonstrationFast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant[DFRP], which is in an advancedstage of construction.

The construction of 500 MWePrototype Fast Breeder Reactor(PFBR) is on schedule and isexpected to be commissioned by theyear 2010. In keeping with ourphilosophy of efficient utilization of afuel material by closing the fuel cycle,we have embarked on the design andconstruction of a fuel cycle facility tocater to the PFBR. The facility willbe commissioned by 2012.

Simultaneous with the constructionof the PFBR we have already initiatedprogrammes towards theconceptualization of the FBRs tofollow, with the objective of furtherenhancing the fuel performance aswell as making the energy productionmore economical. To ensure rapidgrowth in the fast reactor programmefor meeting the energy needs in thecountry, we have already embarkedon R&D programmes targetingtowards the introduction of metallicfuel in fast reactors, which wouldprovide much higher breeding. A hostof R&D programmes in associatedareas such as advanced materials,structural mechanics, heat transport,in-service inspection systems, physics,chemistry, safety, etc., are being

pursued to provide R&D inputs forfurther advancement of FBRtechnology. This comprehensive andindigenous programme in all majorareas provides a strong foundation forIndia’s fast reactor programme. Indiais also prepared to contribute tointernational efforts in scaling newtechnological frontiers in this field asan equal partner with other countrieshaving advanced technologicalcapabilities.

Thorium utilization is the long-termcore objective of the Indian nuclearprogramme for providing energyindependence on a sustainable basis.The third stage of the programme isthus based onThorium-Uranium-233cycle. We are actively engaged indeveloping 300 MWe AdvancedHeavy Water Reactor (AHWR). Thedesign of this reactor incorporatesseveral advanced features to meet theobjectives being set out for futureadvanced nuclear reactor systems. Acritical facility to validate physicsdesign of AHWR will be functionalthis year. The facility is flexible enoughto study the physics of advancedsystems, including source drivensystems, in future. Development ofhigh current proton accelerator andspallation source for AcceleratorDriven Sub-Critical Systems (ADS)is also being pursued. Such systemswould offer the promise of shorterdoubling time, even with Thorium, andincineration of long lived actinides andfission products, thus leading to thepossibility of eliminating long-livedradioactive waste. A Compact HighTemperature Reactor (CHTR), with100 kW thermal power rating, is beingdeveloped as a demonstrator oftechnologies relevant for nextgeneration high temperature reactorsystems. Such reactor systems willaddress the needs such as electricitygeneration in remote places,production of alternative transportationfuel such as hydrogen, and refinementof low–grade coal and oil deposits torecover fossil fluid fuel.

India has had a fusion researchprogramme of its own since the earlyeighties. Two tokamaks have beenindigenously built. The Steady StateSuper conducting Tokamak-SST-1 iscurrently undergoing commissioningtests. India has recently joined ITERas one of seven full partners. On thebasis of indigenous experience andexpertise available in Indian industry,India will contribute equipment toITER and will participate in itssubsequent operation andexperiments. Indian scientists are alsoworking on establishing an India-based Nutrino observatory for doingcomprehensive research in NeutrinoPhysics, an area in which Indianresearch groups have sustainedinterest and have made significantcontributions. We would welcomeparticipation of interested internationalscientific groups in this effort. The2.5 GeV synchrotron radiation sourceIndus-2 being set up at RajaRamanna Centre for AdvancedTechnology, Indore, has startedfunctioning. The utilization of thestorage ring for condensed matterstudies using the synchrotron radiationfrom the bending magnet beam lineshas also begun.

The excellent safety record ofIndian reactors and other facilities hasbeen achieved through sustainedResearch and Developmentprogrammes. As part of the safetystudies on nuclear containmentstructures, the construction of a 1:4size containment test model has beeninitiated at Tarapur. The ultimate loadcapacity of the containment would bestudied on this test model and theexperimental results would beavailable to the participants of a roundrobin exercise, which is beingorganized by us. We would welcomeparticipation of interested researchgroups in this exercise.

As in the previous years, we havebeen interacting with the IAEA veryclosely in almost all its activities. Wehave been an active participant in the


IAEA – INPRO programme. Wewere one of the six countries toperform a national case study fordevelopment of INPRO methodologyunder INPRO phase-1B part-1activity which was done using theIndian Advanced Heavy WaterReactor. We are also involved in jointcase studies on fast reactor withclosed fuel cycle and high temperaturereactors for hydrogen generation. Wehave also contributed to chapters ofthe INPRO document on guidance andmethodology for assessment ofeconomics, safety and wastemanagement. We strongly supportinternational cooperation throughcooperative research and jointinitiatives, as envisaged under INPROphase-2. India remains supportive ofthe IAEA fulfilling its statuteresponsibilities, particularly thedevelopmental and international co-operative dimensions of nuclearenergy.

The Indian programme on theapplication of radioisotope andradiation in health, agriculture, industry,hydrology, water management andenvironment for societal benefit hasa close match with several activitiesof the Agency. Our experts thus takeactive part in all Agency activities. Asa founder member, we participateactively in RCA activities. Last year,we had hosted six events in India.We have also hosted 34 IAEAFellows and Scientific visitors. I amglad to inform this gathering that theInternational Union Against Cancer(UICC) selected the Tata MemorialCentre in Mumbai for the“Outstanding UICC Memberorganization” award for its outreachprogrammes related to cancer control.PACT programme drawn up by theSecretariat deserves our fullest andspeedy support.

Mr. President,

A special event on “NewFramework for Utilisation of NuclearEnergy in the 21st Century:

Assurances of Supply and Non-Proliferation” is currently in progressas a part of this General Conference.Out of the current fleet of 443 nuclearpower reactors operating in the world,less than half are under IAEAsafeguards. Even in this scenario andwith a very slow growth of nuclearpower in the last two decades, thevolume of human and financialresources needed for implementationof IAEA safeguards have constituteda large fraction of the resourcesavailable to the Agency. Now withanticipated rapid growth in demandfor nuclear power, mainly in thedeveloping countries, cost effectivesafeguards are essential so that thesafeguard system does not itselfbecome an hindrance to thedevelopment of nuclear power whileat the same time providing thenecessary assurances in terms ofverification. India therefore feels it isnecessary to look for institutional aswell as technological solutions withenhanced proliferation resistancealong with an assured fuel supply,without adversely affecting long-termsustainability of nuclear fuelresources. Thorium offers a veryimportant and attractive solution fromthis perspective and we urge theAgency and its members to giveserious consideration of thepossibilities offered by the Thoriumroute.

Over the years India has developedadvanced capabilities in the utilizationof thorium, as a part of its strategy toenhance nuclear capacity through aclosed nuclear fuel cycle that wouldenable timely deployment of itsthorium reserves. We are convincedthat this is a viable and sustainablestrategy for India’s and global longterm energy security. Seen in thecontext of nuclear power becoming asignificant fraction of energy supplyin a world where everyone is assuredof a minimum of 5000 KWh of energyin a year, entire global Uranium if usedin once through mode would last only

a few tens of years. Even with ashorter term perspective ofdeployment of a proliferation resistantnuclear energy system that couldaddress the need for incineration ofavailable surplus plutonium, the use ofthorium, in reactors using proventechnologies, presents a vastlysuperior option as compared to otheroptions based on fast reactors. In mypresentation at the special eventtomorrow I would elaborate on thisaspect further. I will urge the IAEAto give a further boost to its activitiesthat could lead to an early expansionof global reach and volume ofdeployment of nuclear energy, usingthorium based fuel cycle as one of theimportant routes to reach the goal.

We have been constantlyreminding the Agency of the need tomaintain a balance between itspromotional and safeguards relatedactivities. The risk arising out ofglobal climate change and rapiddepletion of global fossil fuels is realand substantial. We believe that futureenhancement of the share of nuclearenergy as a clean energy source ispossible and feasible in a manner thatsatisfies the imperatives of nuclearsafety and security. Let us thereforeresolve that we would pool ourscientific and technological abilitiestogether in finding holistic solutions sothat the next 50 years are seen as thegolden period of nuclear energydevelopment in meeting global energyneeds. As a responsible state withadvanced nuclear technologicalcapabilities, India is prepared to playits part in this glorious endeavour.

Thank you Mr. President.

7NuclearIndiavol.40/no.3-4/2006

Nuclear Agriculture

Indianagricultureinthepasthaswitnesseddramaticeventssuchasgreenrevolutionwhichchangedthenation’sstatusfromafoodimportingnationtoaselfsufficientnation.Thenationalagriculturalpolicynowfocusesonsustainedproductionandnutritionalsecurityfortheonebillionpluspopulation.TheDepartmentofAtomicEnergywithitsprogrammeonuseofnucleartechnologiesforagriculturehasbeenanimportantpartnerinboostingproductivityinsomeselectcrops.Thenucleartechnologieshavebenefitedthefarmers,tradersandend-users.

BhabhaAtomicResearchCentre(BARC)hasabroad-basedresearchprogrammeinnuclearagricultureinvolvinggeneticimprovementofcropsusingmutationandconventionalbreeding,biotechnologicalapproaches,isotope-aidedstudiesonsoils,fertilizeruptakeandpesticideresiduesanalysisandintegratedpestmanagementincludingtheuseofsterileinsecttechnique,pheromones,bio-pesticidesandradiationprocessingoffooditems.

Geneticimprovementofcropplantsisacontinuousendeavour.Radiationinducedgeneticvariabilityincropplantsisavaluableresourcefromwhichplantbreedercanselectandcombine different desiredcharacteristicstoproducebettercropplants.Thedesirabletraitswhichhavebeenbredthroughinducedmutationsincludehigheryield,grainquality,earlymaturity,diseaseandpestresistance,improvedplanttypeandabioticstressresistance.Inducedmutantsaredirectlyusediftheyperformwellinthefieldortheyareemployedinthecrossbreedingprogramme.MutantsorselectionsinitiallydevelopedatBARCareadvancedincollaborationwithIndianCouncilofAgriculturalResearchor StateAgriculturalUniversities.Thesehavebeenfoundtocatertothe

requirementatnationallevelorsometimeslocationspecificneeds.

TwentysevenTrombaycropvarietieshavesofarbeendevelopedandreleasedforcommercialcultivationbytheGovernmentofIndia.Amongtheseare11groundnut,11pulsesandtwomustardvarietiesandonevarietyeachofjute,riceandsoybean.Therecent(2004-2006)amongthemarethegroundnutvarietiesTPG-41,TG-37A,TG-38andmungvarietyTMB-37andSoybeanvarietyTAMS-38.Inaddition,onevarietyeachofmustard,sunflower,soybeanandtwovarietieseachof groundnutandmungbeanhavebeenreleasedbytheIndianCouncilofAgriculturalResearchorStateagriculturaluniversitiesandareawaitingnotification.EightTrombaycropmutantswereregisteredwiththeNationalBureauofPlantGeneticResources,ICAR,NewDelhi.

BARChasdevelopedprotocolsforrapid multiplication of somecommercialcultivarsofbanana,pineappleandsugarcane.Protocolhas

alsobeendevelopedforin vitropropagationofanendangeredbananacultivar,Rajeli.ThetechnologyforbananahasbeentransferredtotheMaharashtraStateSeedsCorporationLtd.,AkolaandKamarajKrishiVigyanKendra,Pondicherry.

Soybean developed at BARC.A woman farmer in Sattupallyvillage, West Godavari district ofAndhra Pradesh, proudlyexhibiting the harvestedgroundnut TG-26 from her field


GreengramTMB-37

SoybeanTAMS-38

GroundnutTPG-41

GroundnutTG-37A

2005

2005

2004

2004

M: 63Y: 1100YI: 20

M: 95Y: 2318YI: 20

M: 120Y: Summer 2407YI: 26

M: 110Y: Kharif 1993YI: 26-38

Eastern UP, Bihar,Jharkhand, Assamand West Bengal

Maharashtra

All India

Rainy SeasonRajasthan, Punjab,Haryana, Gujarat, UPRabi/SummerW. Bengal, Orissa,Assam/N.E.

Tolerant to yellowmosaic virus

Early maturing, resistantto bacterial pustule,Myrothecium leaf spot

Large seed (65g 100 seeds),Fresh seed dormancy, Onfarm trials 4551 kg/ha,49% increase

Wider adaptability,seed dormancy

Trombay var ie t ies Released & Not i f ied by Minis t ry of Agr icul ture , Governmentof Indiafor commercial cul t ivat ion (2004-05)

Crop Year ofRelease

Maturity (M)Yield (Y) &Yield Increase (YI)

Released for Remarks

GroundnutTG-38

2006 M: 115Y: Rabi/Summer 2500YI: 20

Rabi/SummerW. Bengal, Orissa,Assam/N.E.

High yield potentialin residual moisturesituation

TROMBAY CROP VARIETIES RLEASED FOR COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION

U s i n g r a d i a t i o n i n d u c e d mutations, 27 crop varieties have been developed and re leased for commercial cult ivation in different agro-climatic zones in the country. S o m e o f t h e v a r i e t i e s a r e v e r y popu la r and g rown ex tens i ve l y . T h e i m p r o v e d c h a r a c t e r s a r e higher yield, earl iness, large seed s i z e , r e s i s t a n c e t o b i o t i c a n d abiotic stresses.

Rice (1) Jute (1) Soybean (1) Pigeonpea (2)

Groundnut (11)

Mustard (2) Mungbean (5)

Urdbean (4)

9NuclearIndiavol.40/no.3-4/2006

TheSewage Sludge Hygen-isation plant(SHRI)setbybyBARCatVadodaraprovidesdriedhygeinisedsludgeforusebyfarmers.

Thehygienisedsludgebeingpathogenfreecanbebeneficiallyusedasmanureintheagriculturalfieldsasitisrichinnutrientsrequiredforthesoil.Further,itcanalsobeusedasamediumforgrowingsoilusefulbacterialikerhizobium andazetobactortoproduceenrichedmanurethatcanbeusedtoenhancethecropyields.LargescalefieldtrialsofutilizingradiationprocessedmunicipalsewagesludgeintheagriculturalfieldshavebeenconductedunderthesupervisionofKrishiVigyanKendra(KVK,Vadodara).Thetrialsconductedsludgewasfoundtobeveryeffectiveinincreasingtheyieldsofagriculturalcrops.

Sewage Sludge Hygenisation

A farm usingmanure fromtreated sludge

Sewage Sludge Hygenisation plant (SHRI) at Vadodara, Gujarat


The field of medicine has seen a

revolution. Clinicians have come along way from empirical to opinionbased to experience based and today,thankfully, to evidence basedmedicine. The need for evidence-based medicine was felt withimprovements in understanding ofdisease processes and a non-uniformity of treatment practices thatwere prevalent at the time. The needwas not only to standardize treatmentpolicies but also to select whichmodality or modalities best served thepurpose. With technology, there areever-increasing varieties of newermedications and treatment deliverymethods available and it becomesimperative to evaluate the actualefficacy as well as effectiveness ofsuch treatment innovations. This hasmade it absolutely mandatory for atreating clinician to understandnuances of research methodology inorder to correctly plan and executeclinical trials or studies and for acorrect interpretation of the resultsobtained. With this effort, it is alsoimperative that research activities arenot unnecessarily and unconsciouslyduplicated and that each started effortis taken to fruition with the leastpossible effort and with optimumefficiency. This requires goodadministration that can come fromindependent governing bodies that aretotally devoted to this exercise.

Importance of Clinical ResearchThe middle of last century saw

dramatic developments in medicine inthe form of antibiotics and vaccines,which led to saving of millions of lives.These achievements raised the hope

Clinical Trials CentresStrides Towards A Better Healthcare

Dr Mandar S Nadkarni, Dr Rajendra A BadweDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital

that similar major developments willbe repeated in other areas of medicinein the future. However, experienceover the next 50 years belied thishope. The much awaitedbreakthroughs in major humandiseases have not come about and the‘magic bullet’ for the cure of canceror HIV / AIDS has not yetmaterialised. It is now acknowledgedthat medical progress in preventingdeaths from common and chronicdiseases is going to be slow and willtake place in small increments.Nevertheless, a small incrementalprogress in such common diseases ascancer, diabetes, coronary heartdisease and AIDS may save manythousands of lives world-wide. Theonly scientific instrument, which hasthe capability to measure reliablysmall medical benefits, is therandomised controlled clinical trial.The randomised clinical trial is nowrecognised as one of the mostsignificant developments in the post-war medical scene and has becomethe gold standard for the practice ofevidence-based medicine. Therandomised clinical trial can be usedto: refute old prejudices; changeestablished clinical practices, establishnew therapeutic regimens, evaluatequality of life after a therapeuticintervention; evaluate efficacy ofscreening and disease preventionactivities in the sphere of publichealth; quantify the degree of benefitfrom an intervention and so on. Thespin-offs of randomised trials can alsobe cost benefit assessment anddevelopment of biological hypothesesfor future testing.

Some of the numerous examples

To initiate clinicians in the

concept of scientific and

evidence-based medicine and

also to address medical and

epidemiological questions

related to India, a national

centre for clinical trials has been

established at Tata Memorial

Hospital.

The scientific community, other

funding agencies and ultimately

patients may benefit from

testing the efficacy of newly

synthesized biological products

such as engineered enzymes,

genetic materials and other

substances emanating from

laboratories.


as to how the randomised controlledclinical trial has changed clinicalpractice include : mammographicscreening for early detection of breastcancer, multi-drug treatment fortuberculosis, adjuvant systemictherapy for breast and colon cancer,aspirin and streptokinase in preventingdeath from heart attack, comparisonof angioplasty versus bypass surgeryfor coronary arterary disease,prophylactic heparin infusion forpreventing deep vein thrombosis aftermajor abdominal surgery, eradicationof heliobactor pylori infection fortreatment of dudenal ulcer, healing ofanal fissure by local application ofglyceryl trinitrite cream, oraladministration of salt and sugar waterfor preventing death from cholera inchildren and so on. On the other hand,the randomised clinical trial has alsohelped to abandon time honouredtreatment modalities such as theradical mastectomy for breast cancer,the use of magnesium incardiovascular disease, surgery in thetreatment of peptic ulcer disease etc.In this context the CardiacArrhythmia Suppression Trial(CAST) is worth mentioning. Foryears clinicians had treated patientswith anti-arrhythmic drugs after anacute heart attack, in an effort toreduce mortality. The placebocontrolled CAST trial demonstratedthat suppression of ventricularpremature depolarisation after amyocardial infarction by differentclass I anti-arrhythmic drugs likeflecainide actually increasedmortality!

Other benefits of Clinical trialsIn western countries the concept

of randomised clinical trials is aubiquitous component of a clinician’smindset. In most academic centresvirtually every patient is entered intosome form of a randomised trial sothat medical knowledge cancontinually advance on a scientific

footing. There is also clear evidencethat patients entered into a randomisedtrial get better medical care since theclinician has to adhere strictly to goodclinical practice because of therigorous discipline imposed by theprotocol of the trial.

The need for trial centresEach western country now has

one or more central facility forconducting randomised clinical trials.For example, in the U.K., the MedicalResearch Council has a nationalcentre for conducting trials in alldisciplines of medicine, whereas theCancer Research Campaign TrialsCentre conducts randomised trials inthe field of cancer. In the UnitedStates, multiple bodies are responsiblefor conducting randomised trials thelargest of which is the NationalInstitute of Health.

The number of trials emanatingfrom India can be counted on one’sfinger-tips. Apparently, the Indianclinician, not initiated in the disciplineof evidence-based medicine,continues to use his personalprejudices as crutches while treatinghis patients and teaching his students.Using borrowed knowledge from theWest, is often inappropriate in theprevailing conditions in our country.There is little exposure for a medicalstudent to scientific thinking and mostprofessors in our medical schools havelittle understanding of the nuances ofa randomised clinical trial let aloneever having participated in one. InIndia, randomised controlled clinicaltrials are usually used synonymouslywith “drug trials” often carried out bythe Council of Scientific and IndustrialResearch (CSIR) laboratories, but itscentral role in scientific progress inall spheres of medicine is not fullyrealised. There is no central facilitywith a separate budgetary allocationto coordinate clinical trials in differentspheres of medicine and public health.

While there may be few enthusiasticphysicians who are interested toconduct trials in their specificdisciplines, their efforts are frustratedin the absence of an organisedinfrastructure and adequate funding.

The Department of AtomicEnergy Clinical Trials Centre (DAE-CTC), a national centre for clinicaltrials was established not only toinitiate our clinicians in the conceptof scientific and evidence-basedmedicine but also to address majormedical and epidemiologicalquestions. Scientific leads fromlaboratory ultimately need to beanswered in human subjects in theform of a randomised clinical trial.But, due to a lack of understandingas to how such a question should beaddressed in a clinical setting and alack of interaction between theclinician and the laboratory scientist,many important scientific leads arelost by default. The scientificcommunity, other funding agenciesand ultimately patients may benefitfrom testing the efficacy of newlysynthesised biological products suchas engineered enzymes, geneticmaterials and other substancesemanating from laboratories.


For nearly three decades, K-130room temperature cyclotron has beenin operation at Variable EnergyCyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata,providing high-energy chargedparticle beams for nuclear physics andchemistry research, radiation damagestudies and also to produceradioisotopes for medical application.To extend the scope of nuclearresearch with heavy ion beam atVECC, it was decided in the earlynineties to construct asuperconducting cyclotron of higherenergy (K-500) for compact size andweight.

Superconducting magnet coil isone of the most critical componentsof K-500 superconductingcyclotron. It produces high magneticfield (5.5 Tesla) required for rotatinghigh energy charge particles. Themagnet coil operates at a temperatureof 4.5K, which is achieved by keepingthe superconducting coil in liquidhelium in a specially built SS cryostat.This cryostat is finally placed insidean iron core magnet (80 tonnes) toproduce magnetic field of up to 5.5Tesla.

Fabrication of the superconductingcoil requires adoption of sophisticatedcoil winding techniques. Hence a

General Layout of WindingMachine

Pressure Arm Assembly guiding the conductor during winding

Coil winding in progress

Largest Superconducting Magnet Coil in IndiaFabricated and Energized at VECC for K-500

Superconducting Cyclotron

Subimal SahaHead, Power Electronics and Magnet Coil Development Division

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre


sophisticated and state-of-the art coil-winding facility was set up at VECCin the year 2000.

Winding MachineThe general layout of the winding

machine is shown below. The windingwas done on a vertical winding(Lathe) machine for handling heavyload of around 7 tonnes. 2440 mm diabed of the winding machine wasdriven by motor with reduction gearassembly to get very high torque.

The superconductor was wound onthe SS bobbin. The winding system is

mostly automatic. All the windingparameters were monitored in a PC.

After installation of the machineat VECC, a dummy coil was woundto test the machine. Sufficientexpertise was developed in theprocess required for winding of thesuperconducting magnet coil.

Superconducting CableThe cable used for coil winding

w a s m u l t i - f i l a m e n t a r ysuperconducting wire having 500filaments of 40 µ diameter Nb-Ti incopper matrix which was embeddedin OFHC grade copper channel(2.794 mm x 4.978 mm) for cryogenicstability. The main idea behind usingthe superconducting cable was to getvery high magnetic field (5.5 Tesla)using a very high overall currentdensity of 5800 A/cm2

and therebyreducing the overall size of coil /magnet to many folds as comparedto room temperature magnet. 35 km

length of the cable was used forfabrication of superconductingmagnet coil. A Cryogenic Testlaboratory was set up at VECC forcharacterization of thesuperconducting cable at 4.5Ktemperature.

Description of CoilThe basic structure of the coil

consists of layer-type helical windingon a stainless steel bobbin of 1473 mm(I.D.) x 1930 mm (O.D.) x 1168 mm(H). The bobbin was afterwardswelded shut to become helium can.The coil was spilt into two halves(upper and lower sides of medianplane) and each half was again splitinto large (β-coil) and short (α-coil)coils.

The inner wall of the SS bobbinwas covered with two layers of 5 milmylar, followed by a first layer of40 mil thick x 13 mm wide strips offibre glass laminate (NEMA-G-10CR), called picket fence, placed ata gap of 13 mm. The spaces betweenthe pickets are used for the passage

of liquid helium circulation for coil. Ateach end of the bobbin there aregrooved flange spacers also made ofG-10 Glass Epoxy laminate placed onthe collar plate at 20

pitch, whichprovides radial alternating ducts(13mm wide) for helium feedpassage. The narrow grooves onflange spacers position the picketfence strips by meshing with tabs ofthe pickets. The α and β coils areseparated by partition insulatingspacer 10 mm thick having alternategrooves also spaced at 20

pitch forhelium passage and lead entry / exit.This partition spacer is also made ofglass epoxy laminate consisting of6-segments of 600

each. The coilleads enter through the partitionspacer and first turn is made usingclimb spacers for progressiveincrease in height and helical windingwas carried out.

After each layer again alternateG-10 picket fences are mounted(180 nos. per layer) which providesinsulation between layers and passageof liquid helium axially. On completion

Table-I: Conductor Specification

• Conductor type :Nb-Ti multifilamentary composite superconducting wire

soldered in copper (OHFC) channel• Critical current at 4.2 K and 5.5 Tesla : 1030 A.• Filament diameter : 40 micron• No. of filaments : 500• Wire diameter : 1.29 mm• Critical current density (J

C) of superconductor : 1813 A/mm

2

• Overall dimension of superconductor : 4.978 mm x 2.794 mm• Overall current density : 58 A/mm

2

• Copper to Superconductor ratio (Overall) : 20• Copper to Superconductor ratio of wire : 1.3• Residual Resistivity Ratio (RRR) =ρ

300K / ρ

10K : 150

• Yield Strength : 117 Mpa• Twist Pitch : < 12.7 mm• Superconducting alloy : Nb / 46% Ti• Resistivity : 10

-11 Ω-cm• Design field : 5.5 Tesla• Design temperature: 4.2 K

Cross section of SuperconductingMagnet Coil


of one layer, climb spacers (180 Nos.)of varying heights were mounted tofill up the gaps between the end turnand the flange spacers. This restrictsthe movement of conductor duringoperation to avoid quench. Thesuperconducting cable of rectangularcross section (2.794 mm x 4.978 mm)is insulated at two edges by 4-mil thickmylar adhesive tape leaving the broadface of the conductor with liquidhelium. Since the coils and conductorexperiences radial and axial forces ofhigh magnitude during energization,the winding was done at high tensionat 2,000 PSI±10% and conductorswere placed one above the other withvery close tolerance to restrictmovement of conductor. Turn-to-turninsulation was checked in-situ aftereach layer. The two α coils and β coilswere finally connected in series andbrought out through the lead portplaced on the upper collar of the SSbobbin for termination. Aftercompletion of α and β coils in upperand lower halves of median plane, tenlayers of mylar sheet were wrapped.Then aluminium banding was carriedout around the α and the β coils at20,000 PSI tension for restricting themovement of the conductor and coil

Table-II: Winding Data

• Conductor Material : Nb-Ti Superconducting wire consisting of 500Filaments (40 µ dia) in copper matrix (1.29 mm dia) embedded incopper stabilizer by soft soldering using Pb-Sn alloy (50:50)

• Conductor Cross Section : 2.794 mm x 4.978 mm• Nominal current Density : 5800 A/cm2

• Design Current : 800 A.• SS (316L) Bobbin : ID – 1486 mm, OD – 1835 mm Height – 1160 mm, Wall thickness – 17.5 mm Collar thickness – 19 mm, Weight -2 tonne• α-Coil (short coil) No. of coils – 2, No. of turns/coil – 1083 No. of layers/coils – 36, Total length of conductor – 5.7 km I.D. of coil –1521 mm, O.D. of coil – 1793 mm Height of coil – 162 mm, Total wt of coil –690 kg Inductance of Coils - 13.8 H• β-Coil (Large Coil) No. of coils – 2, No of turns/coil – 2234 No of layers/coil – 36, Total length of conductor- 11 .7 km I.D. of coil – 1521 mm, O.D. of coil –1793 mm Height of coil – 327 mm, Weight of coil –1410 kg Inductance of coils -27.6 H

• Total weight of four coils : 4200 Kg• Total length of Super Conducting Cable used : 35 km• Aluminium Banding : Aluminium strip of material 5052-H34 and cross-section of 2.48 mm x 5.13 mm

β-coil : No. of turns/layer – 62, No. of layers - 10α-coil : No. of turns/layer – 32, No. of layers - 10

• Total wt. of AluminiumBanding for 4-coil : 320 Kg.

Shri Satyabrata Mukhrjee, thenMinister of State, with Dr. AnilKakodkar, Secretary Departmentof Atomic Energy visiting theSuperconducting Coil WindingLaboratory at Variable EnergyCyclotron Centre(September 5, 2003).


Completed K-500Superconducting Coil

The magnet with the Heliumtransfer lines

when the magnet is energized.Aluminium banding gives morecompressive stress to the coils at 4.2K as compared to SS because ofhigher co-efficient of linearcontraction. Special grade ofAluminium (5052 - H34) strip, havinghigh hardness and tensile strength wasused for the purpose.

Joining/Splicing ofSuperconducting Cable

Since the maximum single length

of the cable available was 6 km, andlength of β coil was 11.7 km, 3-jointsin upper β-coil and 2-joints in lowerβ-coil were necessary. The procedureof joining was carried out in-situ onthe soldering station of coil windingset up.

Several joints were made in thelaboratory and they weresubsequently tested in LHe and the

joint resistances were within safe limitof 5 n ohm at 5.5 Tesla magnetic filed.Joining procedure was standardizedin the process.

StatusCoil winding started on April 17th,

2003. Winding of superconductingcoils, α (2 nos.) and β (2 nos.), werecompleted on July 21, 2003. Threejoints (splicing) in lower β-coil andtwo joints in upper β-coil weresuccessfully carried out and tested on-line. After completion ofsuperconducting coils, aluminiumbanding was done. The whole coilwinding, aluminium banding and leadtermination took about six monthstime. After coil winding, the bobbinwas closed by SS sheet to form theLHe cryostat with current leads,refrigeration port and vent port .Multilayer insulation was wrappedover the LHe chamber to reduce heatleak. Subsequently LN

2 radiation

shield was put around the LHechamber and then the wholeassembly along with vertical andhorizontal support links was put insideannular vacuum chamber/coil tank.The cryostat was positioned themagnet frame (80 Tonne) of pill boxconstruction.

Cryostat was connected with theLiquid Helium Cryostat containingSuperconducting Coils Dewar andLiquid Helium Cryostat containingSuperconducting Coils plant (100l/hrwith LN

2 coolers) with cryogenic

delivery lines. LN2

delivery and returnlines were connected betweencryostat and LN

2 dewars (1600

litres). Cooling of the superconductingcoils started in December, 2004.LHe was filled in the cryostat onJanuary 11, 2005 and temperature ofcoil was maintained at 4.2K. TheSuperconducting Magnet wasenergized on March 30, 2005 by twostabilized DC current regulatedPower Supplies (1000A, 20V, 10ppmstability) with dump (fast and slow)resistors for protection of thesuperconducting coils. So far amaximum magnetic field of 4.8T atthe median plane has been achievedat 22-inch radius (hill region) byenergizing the α and β coils to 550 Aeach.

ConclusionThe winding facility at the Centre

was set-up for the purpose of windingsuperconducting coils. The samefacility may now be used to servegeneral purpose needs like winding ofroom temperature coils and variousother coils for accelerator magnets.Expertise in the field is also availablefor fabrication of superconductingmagnet coils for various other projectswhich will be undertaken in future atthis Centre.

Liquid Helium cryostatcontaining superconducting coil


The first dedicated PET-CTScanner was inaugurated at the newBioimaging Unit of the Tata MemorialHospital (TMH) by the ChairmanAEC on 13th December 2004. Thescanner comprises of a dedicated 16slice CT and a full ring PET scannerwith advanced BGO detectors. The

unique feature of this machine is thatCT and PET scanners are in oneintegrated unit with hardware andsoftware to fuse both CT and PETdata. The machine has therefore thefunctionality of a regular CT machineand the high sensitivity and resolutionof a dedicated PET scanner.

Conventionally PET scannercreates the image by obtaining theEmission data from the body. Thentransmission data is obtained with thehelp of Ge68 Rod sources by meansof which the attenuation factors arecalculated. This data is applied on tothe PET data to obtain the finalattenuation corrected PET image. Innon-attenuated image the details ofthe deeper structures are lost due toattenuation. Depending on the age of

the rod sources the transmission datawould need 15 to 30 minutes ofscanning time. This along with theemission scan time of 15 to 30 minutespushes the total scanning time to 45to 60 minutes. The overall longimaging time, decreases thethroughput of the department and does

not make the best utility of totalavailable 18F-FDG which is anexpensive cyclotron producedradiopharmaceutical.

The new PET-CT scanner usesCT data for attenuation correction andthe CT images for image coregistration. The CT images areobtained in a few seconds, at thebeginning of the PET study. The CTavailable is an advanced 16 slicescanner. The CT data can be obtainedin varied tube current settings, therebyhaving a direct control on the radiationdelivered. At one end of the spectrumwe could have a CT data with 10mAsthat would be adequate for attenuationcorrection and give images forcoregistration in children; with afraction of a mSV radiation. At the

other end we could go up to 400mAswhich is adequate for a large patientfor abdominal imaging, delivering ashigh as 25 mSVs radiation. The CTbased attenuation correction systembrings down the acquisition time for awhole body PET to about 15 to 30minutes depending on the protocolselected.

In the TMH facility besides thePET studies routine contrast enhancedCT scans are also done. On a typicalday 20 whole body PET-CT and 15contrast enhanced CTs areperformed. The facility has so fardone 4000 whole body PET-CT scansand 3000 CECTs. The charges aretoo are highly competitive and is a littleover than contrast enhanced CT scan.

(Bioimaging Unit, Tata MemorialHospital)

The first PET-CT ( Positron Emission Tomography– Computerized Tomography) facility in India


A Mobile Radiological Laboratory(MRL) has been designed andcommissioned by the InternalDosimetry Division of Health, Safety&Environment Group, (BARC),Mumbai for rapid off-site (publicdomain) deployment to assess theradiological impact in the event of anuclear accident / large scale disasteror accidents involving transport ofradioactive materials. It is a vehicleequipped with the necessary radiationmeasuring devices to carry out therequired environmental andradiological monitoring. TheMobile Laboratory is capableof speedy collection of datato evolve and implementsuitable remedial strategy. Itis also equipped with thefacilities to generate base linedata for important areas suchas proposed sites for nuclearfacilities and can be used forroutine environmental andradiological monitoring. It isalso expected to play a vitalrole in enhancing the publicawareness about the facts ofradiation and to remove themisconceptions in the publicmind about the effects ofradiation.

This Mobile Laboratory has beendesigned for a continuous outdooroperation of two weeks. To minimizethe impact of jerks and vibrations onthe installed instruments /equipmentduring the movement of the MRL, it isbuilt on a 10.70 m long air-suspensionBus-Chassis. It is partitioned into fourcompartments, namely Driver Cabin(1.70 m), Counting Laboratory Cabin(5.0 m) containing necessaryequipments for radiation measurementsand identification of importantradionuclides, Whole Body MonitorCabin (1.80 m) for in vivo monitoring

of persons suspected of internalcontamination, and Utility Cabin(2.10 m), to take care of the basicneeds of the members of the teammanning the laboratory during theoutdoor assignments. Air-conditioningunits are provided for maintaining therequired temperature inside the bus foroperating the equipment. Two dieselgenerators are installed to provide therequired power-supply during fieldoperation.

During Radiological Emergency, theMobile Radiological Laboratoryperforms :

• In-situ measurements for theidentification of radioactivecontaminants and assessment ofground deposition of radioactivity andevaluation of dose rate due to grounddeposition.

• Collection of air samples to evaluategross alpha and beta activity andradionuclide identification using gammaspectrometry.

• Assessment of contamination levelsin foodstuffs like milk, vegetables,drinking water etc. to arrive at a basisfor their use or rejection.

• Measurement of external radiationdose received by the members of thepublic.

• Assessment of the suspected internalcontamination of any person and / orrepresentative groups of population.

• Measurement of meteorologicalparameters such as, wind speed, winddirection, air temperature, solarradiation and relative humidity forassessing radioactive fallout levelsbeyond the monitoring place.

Routine Environmental -Radiation Monitoringfunctions of theLaboratory are :

• Assessment of levelsof radioactivity in soil,water, biota andfoodstuffs for thedevelopment of base linedata as well as continuedmonitoring.

• Measurements ofterrestrial gammabackground dose rates.

• Measurement of grossalpha and gross betaactivity in air and gammas p e c t r o m e t r ymeasurements at

proposed sites by counting of air filtersamples collected over a long duration.

• Periodic 3D mapping of monitoredenvironmental parameters over adefined area to enable the evaluation ofenvironmental impact due to theoperation of nuclear facilities.

Other activities include :• Co-ordination with the aerial survey

team by providing them the monitoreddata of the region.

• Providing monitoring support to thenew/developing sites where laboratoryfacilities may not be available.

• Demonstrations related to radiationsafety and emergency preparedness.

Mobile Radiological Laboratory

Control room of Mobile Radiological Laboratory


Tata Memorial Centrebags international awards

The Tata Memorial Centre hasbagged the “Outstanding UICCMember Organisation” for itsoverall performance in the field ofGlobal Cancer Control at theInternational Union Against Cancer(UICC)-World Cancer Congress heldin July 2006.

The UICC set up to coordinate andpromote all aspects of the global fightagainst cancer, has over 270 memberorganizations in more than 80countries. The award “OutstandingUICC Member Organisation” goes toan organisation that demostratesexcellence in Cancer Control beyondits borders.

The Award was presented inWashington D.C at the World CancerCongress on July 7, 2006.

Also, for its Palliative CareProgramme, the Tata MemorialHospital has been chosen for the“IAHPC 2005 Annual InstitutionalAward”. This Award is given inrecognition to programmes whichmake significant contributions to thedevelopment of palliative care in theircommunities and regions and bringthese programmes to the attention ofpolicy makers and other healthworkers. The Palliative CareProgramme at TMH is a model ofexcellence in the country and Asia.

The American Cancer Society’s“International AchievementAward” was bagged byDr. S.S.Shastri, Head, Department ofPreventive Oncology, TMH. Thisprestigious award is given forexceptional leadership in advancingone of the Society’s three strategicinternational programmes – AmericanCancer Society University, TobaccoControl and the International PartnersProgram.

Graduation Function of BARC Training SchoolBARC Training School held Graduation Function of about 120 scientificofficers (49th batch) who joined the Atomic Energy Programme, and theinaugural function of the Golden Jubilee batch, on August 31, 2006. TheChief Guest was Dr. G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO.

Homi Bhabha prizes were given to the trainees who topped in variousdisciplines. In his address to the gathering Dr. Nair remarked that his careergained a firm foundation due to the training he received from BARC TrainingSchool 40 years back. He underscored the importance of the Atomic EnergyProgramme in meeting the energy requirements of the country. The spaceand atomic energy programmes share a synergistic relationship and havereached a state of maturity today, largely due to the bold initiatives of thevisionaries - Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, he said. He mentioned thatsatellites and launching systems from ISRO are providing services incommunications and metrological arena from which the society is reapingrich benefits.

Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, AEC in his Presidential Address, underlinedthe importance of the complete chain of activities from research todevelopment, demonstration and deployment for the benefit of the country.

Dr. S. Banerjee, Director, BARC welcomed the golden jubilee batch andsaid that they are fortunate to be eligible for the award of a Masters Degreeby a deemed to be University, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI).

Welcoming the gathering Dr. R.B. Grover, Director, Knowledge ManagementGroup, BARC referred to setting up of HBNI as a landmark initiative andsaid “This landmark initiative will help to further raise the standard of researchand education in the units of DAE”

Dr. R.R. Puri, Head, Human Resource Development Division, BARC,congratulated the graduating officers.

Director, IGCAR elected chairman of a seven-countryinternational project

Dr. Baldev Raj, Director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research(IGCAR), Kalpakkam, has been elected chairman of a seven-countryinternational project to define a future fast reactor with closed nuclear fuelcycle (FR with CNFC) that will contribute to the generation of 300 GWe to500 GWe of nuclear power by 2050. This futuristic reactor will meet sevenspecific requirements: safety, economy, non-proliferation, technology,environmental concerns, waste management and infrastructure.

The seven countries are India, Russia, China, France, Japan, South Koreaand Ukraine. The U.S. and Canada are likely to join the project. The initiativeis under the auspices of the International Project on Innovative NuclearReactors and Fuel Cycle, called INPRO, of the International Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA). This reactor will have a capacity of 1000 MWe.


Dr. Mohamed Elbaradei, Director General, IAEA, Dr. AnilKakodkar, Chairman, AEC and Mr. Sheelkant Sharma, IndianAmbassador to Austria.

Dr. Mohamed Elbaradei, Director General, IAEA, Dr. AnilKakodkar, Chairman, AEC and Dr. S. Banerjee, Director, BARC.

Dr. Vuong Hun Tan, Chairman, Vietnaam Atomic EnergyCommission putting his comments on DAE pavilion.

Mrs. Buyewwa Sonjica, Minister of Minerals & Energy,South Africa with Dr. K. Raghuraman, Head IndternationalStudies Division, DAE.

This being the fiftieth year of the IAEA, manyMember States participated in an exhibition organisedby the IAEA during the Fiftieth General Conference.A special Memorabilia Exhibition was also put up bythe IAEA displaying historical exhibits. DAE, besidesputting up its pavilion also contributed towards theMemorabilia Exhibition. The DAE pavilion highlightedIndia’s role in the creation of the IAEA, the three-stage NPP of India and the Indian initiatives andachievements in the societal applications of nuclearenergy in India. It also brought out the advances madeby India in frontier areas of science and technologyincluding international projects like the ITER, theINPRO etc. A model of 540 MWe PHWR(indigenously designed and constructed at Tarapur)was an attraction at the pavilion. A twelve-minutemulti-media presentation on “India and the IAEA- AHistorical Perspective” made specially for theoccasion, was viewed and lauded by the visitors. Thepavilion was visited and appreciated by a large numberof delegation members of various Member States andalso the IAEA professionals including Dr. MohamedElBaradei, Director General, IAEA.

Glimpses from the DAE’s pavilion at the General Conference-50 (GC-50)Exhibition at IAEA, Vienna, Austria (September 18-22, 2006)


A visitor taking notes at the DAEPavilion

A visitor viewing a 12-munute film titled “India andthe IAEA – A Historical Perspective” (Inset)

The Director General, IAEAwith the Indian delegation to

General Conference-50, andother DAE Officials.

Documents

Website : ISSN-09929-5523 Nuclear India