Standard Post with Image

Budget 2014: Department of Atomic Energy allocated INR 10,446 Crore

With Kudankulam unit 2 likely to become operational in this financial year, the government has allocated INR 10,446 crore to the Department of Atomic Energy for power generation and research. 

For power generation, INR 1709 crore has been allocated to the department. This includes INR 30 crore for India's first Prototype Bast Breeder reactor at Kalpakkam at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR).

The government also intends to invest INR 203 crore and INR 440 crore in NPCIL and Bhartiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd ( BHAVINI), two PSUs under DAE. 

INR 8737 crore has been allocated for research in the field of nuclear energy. There are several research centres under the DAE, major being Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology and IGCAR and Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMDER). 

The allocation also includes provisions for projects such as survey, prospecting, and exploration by AMDER and setting up a Centre for Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership in Haryana. 

In last budget, the department had been allocated INR 8,449 crore for Atomic Energy Research, but it was revised to INR 6,969 crore. For research in the field of Earth Science, Ocean activities and Meteorology, the Ministry of Earth Science has been alloted INR 1699 crore. 

In the field of Ocean Research, the government has alloted INR 629 crore, INR 661 for Meteorology and INR 380 crore for other earth science related projects. This also includes ambitious projects like procuring new vessels for ocean research, studying seismological patterns and polar sciences. 

Source-On Request