N-power Essential Element of India''s Energy Basket: Patil

Vienna: Calling nuclear power an essential element of India''s national energy basket, President Pratibha Patil has said the safety of the country''s atomic plants was a matter of highest priority for the Indian government. The President, who concluded her state visit to Switzerland yesterday, emphasised on India''s impeccable non-proliferation record. "The President noted that nuclear energy was an essential element of India''s national energy basket," M Ganapathi, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs said, briefing reporters about Patil''s visit to Switzerland. Patil, who arrived here last night on the final leg of her two-nation tour, "underscored that safety of India''s nuclear power plants was a matter of highest priority for the government of India. And the government would do all that it could to enhance transparency and boost public confidence," Ganapathi said. The President''s remarks on safety of the atomic power plants came against the backdrop of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, where a massive earthquake and tsunami damaged a nuclear plant in March this year, leading to leak of the radioactive material and sparking international concerns. During the bilateral talks, the Swiss side said that they fully supported India''s associate membership of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research or CERN. There are currently six associate members.