Utmost caution must in regulation of N-power sector: Ansari

Mumbai, Aug 26 (PTI) India must exercise utmost caution
in the regulation of the nuclear power sector so that public
interest and safety are ensured, India's Vice President Hamid
Ansari said Wednesday.

"We must exercise utmost caution in the regulation of the
nuclear power sector so that public interest and safety are
ensured. Our experience in regulation of a hitherto closed
sector thrown open to private corporate and foreign investment
has been a mixed one," Ansari told a graduation function of
the BARC Training School at Trombay here.

"In various areas such as telecom, petroleum and gas,
electricity and infrastructure development, public perception
of regulatory oversight has been dented as a result of
allegations of regulatory bias and conflict of interest in
corporate conflicts," Ansari said.

The manner in which international regulatory environment
concerning nuclear commerce has changed since the last year,
new avenues have opened for accelerated deployment of nuclear
power in the years to come, he said.

"This would also bring about a re-adjustment in the
internal regulatory environment.

"In the not so distant future, private utility providers
would run nuclear power plants.

"Such plants would need human resources. While we can
import nuclear fuel and technology, human resources would have
to be developed and equipped within the country," Ansari said.
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