Click to play videoNew Delhi: While the political community reacts to the IAEA draft agreement, what does the scientific community have to say?
“When an agreement in under negotiation, it has to be kept within them. However, once the negotiating process is complete, the agreement text can be made available,” says Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Anil Kakodkar.
Kakodkar is not sure why the draft safeguards text was available on foreign websites even before it appeared on the MEA site -- indicative of the fact that the document has drawn as many critics as suppporters.
The Government says the IAEA safeguards will cover only 14 civilian reactors, leaving out eight for India's strategic weapons programme. Fuel supply for the lifetime of the safeguarded reactors is guaranteed, India can take corrective measures if fuel supply is disrupted.
The IAEA will support India's plan to build a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel.
But the critics say the safeguards agreement is silent about which reactors will come under the IAEA inspections. Could it, for example, include the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research where strategic research is carried out?
The agreement is vague about the IAEA's obligation to ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply. The corrective measures India could take in event of fuel supply being interrupted are not spelt out and will these measures be acceptable to IAEA. It’s not clear if the IAEA has any binding obligation to help build India's strategic fuel reserve
Doubts persist about how intrusive the IAEA's on site inspections could be, about sharing sensitive design information with the IAEA and the fact that the agency is not subject to the jurisdiction of Indian courts.
So in the event of a dispute the IAEA could declare India not in compliance, which could trigger international sanctions.
The IAEA Board of Governors is expected to meet on the July 28 to discuss the safeguards text. Approval could take a few days and then the Nuclear Suppliers Group has to give India a waiver from restrictions on nuclear trade.
If all goes well the 1-2-3 agreement complete with safeguards and NSG waiver could be with the US Congress by September.
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