India's 10 new indigenous atomic centres to create 33,400 jobs

Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved 10 nuclear reactors worth Rs 70,000-crore. The projects are being touted as a quantum leap in India's nuclear energy generation capacity and a new transparent policy for fuel supply to thermal power plants that reflects the country's swift progress from scarcity to the sufficiency of domestic coal. 

But that is not all. Aside from cutting country's carbon footprint and contribution to climate change, the 10 new indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) or nuclear reactors will also create at least 33,400 jobs. 

According to the official statement by the Centre, "India has current installed nuclear power capacity of 6,780 MW from 22 operational plants. Another 6,700 MW of nuclear power is expected to come on stream by 2021-22 through projects presently under construction."

Read | Union cabinet gives the approval to build 10 new nuclear reactors

It added: "...In a first-of-its-kind project for India's nuclear-power sector, the 10 new units will come up in a fleet mode as a fully homegrown initiative. It would be one of the flagships 'Make in India' projects in this sector." The department also said that the order would cost Rs 70,000 crore and that it would create 33,400 jobs.

The department also said in its statement: "With manufacturing orders to domestic industry, it will be a major step towards strengthening India's credentials as a major nuclear manufacturing powerhouse. The 10 reactors will be part of India's latest design of 700-MW PHWR fleet with state-of-art technology meeting the highest standards of safety."