New Delhi. India’s top nuclear scientist Sekar Basu, one of the architects of the country’s nuclear submarine marine programme, died of Covid-19 in Kolkata on September 24. He was 68.
Dr Basu, who pioneered the highly complex reactor for India”s first nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant, had retired as Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), in 2017.
In May 2017, the government had approval to DAE’s plan for constructing 10 Pressurised Heavy-Water Reactors (PHWRs) and two Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs)
He had overseen the launch of various important DAE projects, including the commercial power production of the second 1,000 MW nuclear reactor of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu. The construction of Units 3 and 4 of the KNPP began in 2017, while Units 5&6 are under consideration.
He had earlier headed the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at Trombay, in Mumbai, and was engaged in the design, development, construction and operation of nuclear recycle plants at Tarapur in Maharashtra and Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.
Born on September 20, 1952, Dr Basu did his schooling from Ballygunge Government School, Kolkata and graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), University of Mumbai in 1974. After completion of one year of BARC Training School programme in nuclear science and engineering, he joined the Reactor Engineering Division of BARC in 1975.
He started his career by designing fuel for Boiling Water Reactor, which showed excellent performance. Later he took up the responsibility of the development of nuclear submarine propulsion plant and built the land based prototype at Kalpakkam from scratch. He continues to guide the Indian nuclear propulsion programme for the sea going versions. Since 2000, he was also responsible for the design, development, construction and operation of nuclear recycle plants at Tarapur and Kalpakkam, involving reprocessing and nuclear waste management. These plants are performing to international standards. Work on the design of Indian Pressurised Water Reactor has also been initiated by him.
As Director, BARC, Dr Basu took special initiatives for major expansion of the societal programmes of DAE in the field of nuclear agriculture, food preservation and nuclear medicine. While pursuing the basic research in the field of nuclear science and engineering, he has also been working towards the expansion of enrichment and strategic programmes. He represented India in concluding ‘Arrangements and Procedures’ with the US Government for reprocessing of US hypothecated fuel and has chaired the International Committee for the design review of three modules of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).
He had several publications to his credit in national and international journals. Dr Basu was been conferred several awards, including the Padma Shri in 2014, the Indian Nuclear Society Award 2002, DAE Awards in 2006 and 2007.
He ws also a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineers (INAE) and Indian Society for Non Destructive Testing (ISNT). Jadavpur University awarded him with D Lit (Honoris Causa) degree in 2013.
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