62 SOCIAL SCIENTIST public or government sector. Analysing the defects of the existing organisation and ownership pattern of the electrical power generation industry, Vijayachandran emphasised the need for a truly federal set-up, with equal participation in the Central Energy Authority from all state boards, which alone could plan power production in a national perspective. Even capitalist Britain has adopted such a system where a central electricity generating board,sells electricity in bulk to 12 area boards. Even though CEGB and area boards are autonomous bodies, the general direction is given by an apex body (Electricity Council) composed of individual board chairmen, two CEGB members and five independent nominated members. In contrast, India goes ahead with a unitary CEA and federalist-minded state boards. Due to inadequate financial and S & T infrastructure, the state boards reel under bankruptcy and CEA seems to be more interested in controlling the sector. What happens is akin to what Marx had described while discussing the relationship between the British India and the princely states: "If you divide the revenue of a country between two Governments, you are sure to cripple the resources of one and the administration of both. ...The conditions under which they are allowed to retain their apparant independence are at the same time, the conditions of permanent decay, and of utter inability of improvement." Such a situation can change only a.s part of a truly federal reorientation in every sphere, be it (a) planning for power development, (b) a national technology policy for power development, (c) construction and distribution of power systems or (d) financing of power plans. The country stands to gain enormously if more uniformity is enforced in design and construction and adequate S & T funds are earmarked as part of a rational programme. The third paper was on "Current Status of Nuclear Power" by A D Damodaran, formerly of -the Department of Atomic Energy and currently secretary, Kerala State Committee on S & T. Quoting data from International Atomic Energy Agency, Damodaran emphasised thai the world is currently generating 173 GWe nuclear energy through its 297 nuclear reactors in 25 countries, contributing to over 8 per cent of the world-wide electrical power capacity and more than 10 per cent of the total electricity generated during 1982. To that extent nuclear power is no longer a pipe-dream, but a source of power with a genuinely developed S & T base. A number of developed countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Sweden, West Germany, Hungary, Finland, Switzerland etc) are planning for a nuclear share of 20-30 per cent by 1990, with France aiming at 70 per cent and the USA and the USSR at 20-30 per cent, particularly in certain geographical sectors. Such a confidence is based on the 2836 reactor years of experience. The USSR was the first country to pioneer the approach of standardisation of design and also manufacturing and construction procedures and methods. It has also proceeded simultaneously to tighten safety procedures with additional