Nuke deal will bring in restricted technologies: scientists

Manash Pratim Bhuyan

New Delhi, Sep 10 (PTI) With India gearing up to a new
era of nuclear commerce, scientists at Defence Research and
Development Organisation (D.R.D.O.) and Indian Space Research
Organisation (I.S.R.O.) say the N.S.G. waiver will not only
address the country's energy needs but also help in getting
critical technologies in diverse areas which have been denied
for decades.

They believe apart from the nuclear energy, the waiver
will result in flow of advanced technologies and a range of
dual use items to India's way which would help various
strategic programmes in many sectors including aerospace and
defence.

Expecting the nuclear deal to go through at the
U.S. Congress, Chief Controller of Research and Development at
D.R.D.O. W Selvamurthy said the strategic partnership with the
US will result in an environment that will encourage them to
share with India critical technologies that were out of bounds
for the last three decades.

"I think the strategic partnership with the U.S. will
result in an environment which will encourage them to share
with us critical technologies whether they are in the civilian
or military domain," the distinguished scientist told PTI.

He said "softening of attitude" towards India will
lead to lifting of restrictions on advanced technology which
will also help various programmes of the D.R.D.O. in many
ways.

"When the denial regime is lifted in one sector it
will have ripple effect in other sectors," Selvamurthy said.

I.S.R.O.'s Director of Public Relations S Satish said the
the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal will result in a change of approach
towards India by the U.S. and other developed countries which
will help in easing restrictions on dual use items and
controlled technologies.

"The nuclear deal reflects recognition of India's
scientific capability. Things will improve now. It should help
our scientific programmes as key components for various
strategic projects have been denied so far to India under the
denial regimes," he said.

However, another D.R.D.O. scientist, observing that
things would open up, said still there will be some kind of
embargo on critical technologies and key defence components.

"We can hope for a softening of approach in sharing
critical technology. But still there will be some kind of
embargo on critical technologies and defence components," the
scientist, who wished not to be named, said.

Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said
India was hopeful of getting access to dual use technology
from America, if the nuclear deal goes through at the US
Congress.

"Access to dual use technology will definitely
accelerate all the programmes in space, defence and other
scientific areas. Even the private sector will benefit from
it," he said.

At present, there are restrictions on many dual use
items and technologies which have applications in different
sectors and if they are made available, the manufacturing
industry is expected to get a huge boost.

Head of Business Development of Avionics in L &T Vinod
B Goley said the U.S. will have to open up the core technology
in certain areas as holding back the critical technology would
backfire on them.