Reasons why India must cancel its nuclear expansion plans

Context

Russia – Ukraine War

• A fire broke out near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine (Europe’s largest) during the course of a military battle.
• Had the fire affected the cooling system, the plant’s power supply, or its spent fuel pool, a major disaster could have occurred.

India’s nuclear expansion plans

• On December 15, 2021, the Indian government informed Parliament that it plans to build “10 indigenous reactors… in fleet mode” and had granted “in principle approval” for 28 additional reactors, including 24 to be imported from France, the U.S. and Russia.

What the editorial is about?

• The inherent vulnerabilities of nuclear reactors and their high costs.

What are the concerns associated with India’s nuclear expansion plans?