Nuclear Power Plant In Patiala? Centre Says It Will Review Feasibility Of Early 2000s Proposal

Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh on Monday (2 March) said the central government will re-examine the possibility of establishing a nuclear power plant in Patiala as India looks to scale up its atomic energy capacity.

Singh was addressing an interactive session on "Challenges, Opportunities and the Road Ahead for Punjab," a first-of-its-kind gathering that brought together intellectuals, academicians, retired bureaucrats, policy experts, industry leaders and think tanks to discuss the state's pressing concerns.

The nuclear plant proposal was flagged by Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, who recalled a plan from the early 2000s to set up a facility at Darauli in Patiala district.

Sandhu pointed out that Punjab continues to rely heavily on coal-fired thermal plants and needs a nuclear facility to transition towards clean energy.

Singh assured he would look into the conditions around the project. "If it is practically possible, the union government will explore all options to ensure the establishment of a nuclear power plant in Patiala," he said.

The session covered a wide range of issues, including crop diversification, water security, industrial growth, drug abuse, youth employment, border management, narco-terrorism, health and education infrastructure, and the role of artificial intelligence.

Participants recommended setting up a permanent forum to engage with government agencies and chart a development roadmap for Punjab.

Singh also touched upon the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it unjust and noting that the Modi government had suspended it.

He highlighted the Shahpur Kandi dam agreement between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, which he said would irrigate around 36,000 hectares within five months of completion.

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, who was also present, stressed that employment generation holds the key to tackling the drug menace and breaking the crime-terrorism nexus.

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