PM to dedicate two high-efficiency nuclear reactors to nation

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will dedicate two high-efficiency nuclear reactors to the nation on Friday.

Singh will arrive on Thursday night on a day-long visit to the state during which he will review the situation in Vidarbha region where hundreds of debt-ridden farmers have committed suicides.

Singh will dedicate the two nuclear reactors to the nation at Tarapur in neighbouring Thane district on Friday morning.

Later, he will also address graduates of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

The two reactors, TAPS 3 and 4, are state-of-the-art pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) with a capacity of 540 mw each and have already been connected to the power grid.

These are not among the 14 nuclear reactors India has offered to place under permanent IAEA safeguards.

At BARC, Singh will present Homi Bhabha Gold Medals to the toppers among graduates of the 50th batch of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre's (BARC) Training School on Friday at a function.

He will also felicitate the toppers from first batch to the 45th batch during the Annual Graduation Ceremony.

The Prime Minister will later proceed to Sahyadri Guest House at Malabar Hill in south Mumbai and review agricultural situation of the state, particularly in Vidarbha where hundreds of farmers have committed suicide since he visited that region last year and announced a Rs 3,750 crore relief package.

Singh will also hand over first instalment cheque to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to start the Rs 1200 crore 'Brimstowad' project aimed at upgrading drainage system in India's financial capital.