Our atom state

The atomic energy programme is an economic failure as well as an environmental disaster. Moreover, by its very functioning, the Atomic Energy Commission has undermined the democratic ideals of the nation. Although its power plants profess to produce goods for the benefit of the public, they are not judged by the standards of profitability and accountability that the market imposes on other industries. Nor, like other government-owned and managed firms, do they have to report to the parliamentary committee on public undertakings, writes Ramachandra Guha. Read