Tuesday, March 7 2006 14:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Maintaining that the ability to have a minimum nuclear deterrent was in tact, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today(Mar 7,2006) ruled out capping of the country's strategic programme under the nuclear separation plan but said the CIRUS reactor in Bhaba Atomic Research Centre will be shut down in four years.

"I am in a position to assure (the House) that the separation plan will not not adversely affect our strategic programme.

"There will be no capping of our strategic programme and the separation plan ensures adequacy of fissile material and other inputs to meet the current and future requirements of our strategic programme based on on our assessment of the threat scenarios," he said in statement in the Lok Sabha on the discussions with US President George W Bush on civilian nuclear energy cooperation.

He announced that India has decided to permanently shut down the 50-year-old 40 MWe CIRUS reactor, obtained from Canada for which US supplied heavy water, in 2010.

Singh said the Government was prepared to shift Apsara reactor, purchased from France, from its present location in BARC and make it available for placing under safeguards in 2010.

"We have decided to take these steps rather than allow intrusive inspections in our nuclear facility of high national security importance. We are determined that such steps will not hinger ongoing Research and Development," he said.