Chidambaram to work for 'Vision 2020'

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 13. Dr. R.Chidambaram, former Atomic Energy Commission chairman who will take charge as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Union Government on Thursday, said today that his ambition was to implement the ``Vision 2020'' programme aimed at making India a developed country, self- sufficient in various fields.

He was speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of the sixth convocation of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), where he delivered the convocation address. ``I will continue with the good work done by my predecessor, Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam,'' he said.

Many projects were already underway and the achievements in the fields of space and nuclear science were satisfactory. The programmes should be convolved with social and environmental factors.

On Osama bin Laden's claim that he had nuclear weapons, Dr. Chidambaram said such establishments could be maintained only by State enterprises.

Dr. Chidambaram, who was reluctant to answer questions on nuclear issues, said nuclear weapons were difficult to maintain and needed technology devices. He dismissed as hypothetical a question whether India would exercise the nuclear option in the developing scenario in the sub-continent. It could not be answered at such a fora and needed to be discussed seriously.

He refused to comment on Agni II missile system. It was a strategic area and was being dealt with well. On using nuclear technology for power generation, he said India would have to exercise the option to achieve 20,000 MW of power by 2020.

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