Seminar held on Peaceful Applications of Nuclear Energy.  

The words “nuclear” and “atomic” can trigger fear but very few realise that nuclear energy and related technology have been critical tools in uplifting human life since more than half a century, said Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientist Tirumalesh Keesari.

“About 30 countries, including India and China, use nuclear power for generating electricity. Applications of nuclear energy have also grown tremendously in non-energy fields such as food production, human health and environmental protection,” he said.

Participating in a seminar on ‘Peaceful and Societal Applications of Nuclear Energy’ organised by voluntary agency Social Cause on the 124th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, he said India is playing a key role in promoting use of radioisotopes for food, agriculture, industry, medicine, water resources and the environment.

Of late, isotope hydrology has been the focus area. Naturally-occurring as well as reactor-produced isotopes have been applied to understand f hydrological processes and provide simple solutions to the growing water issues in the country.

He said success stories include identification of source of fluoride in groundwater, estimation of groundwater ages in deep zones, rejuvenating drying springs in Himalayan states, impact of climate change on glaciers and role of paleochannels on groundwater recharge. In Telangana, he said, isotope techniques were employed to verify positive impact of desiltation of natural tanks on groundwater levels, and fluoride contamination.

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