ENERGY AND POWER 63 emergency cooling system and with the formulation of new guidelines for safety and operation. As in many other areas the underdeveloped countries contribute very little in this area as well: ihey account for only around 5 per eent of the world total. The reasons for their meagre achievement in the area are mainly the following: (a) technical' complexity and relatively high investment, with the consequent demands on the national infrastructure; (b) inadequate commitment to an advanced technology which involves also long term planning and clear national policies; (cj relatively small grid sizes and hence the lack of reliability and stability of the transmission grid. Thanks to the efforts pioneered by the late Dr Bhabha, India has obtained a nspectable level of competence in nuclear technology among the UDC's, both by operating the Tarapur reactor for the past 10 years and also by erecting and commissioning indigenously a 200 MW reactor at Kalpakkam based on experience with the Canada assisted Candu design reactors at Kota. To that extent India's nuclear programme has attained a good level of maturity. It is necessary, particulary from the long term point of view, to nurse and develop this important modern technology further so that at an appropriate time India will have the option to choose the right mix of power from the overall development point of view. 'Tower Development—Kerala Experience" was another paper presented by M Ramachandran of the Kerala State Electricity Board. As per current estimates Kerala has a hydro potential of three million kilowatts at 60 per cent load factor, of which only 30 per cent has so far been tapped through its nine generating stations, varying in generating capacities of 30 MW at Panniyar to 300 and 390 at Sabarigiri andldukki respectively. Against a total capacity of 1011 MW the firm power is about 550 MW, generating 4730 MU (1981 data). This capacity has been built up with an investment of Rs 445 crores for the period 1951-1980. The ongoing and new projects, adding to a total of 1045 MW, are expected to involve an outlay of Rs 335 crores. The problems involved in the hydro development schemes have been many. Projects cannot be implemented and planned, sanctioned projects cannot be implemented in time, and there is opposition for almost all projects, a situation not seen in other states. It is necessary that the problems concerned are tackled on a realistic and scientific basis, whether they relate to ecology, labour dispute, partial replacement and inundation of forests or human settlements; unless this is done Kerala's situation will go from bad to worse as far as electrical power is concerned. The paper on "planning and Power—Problems and Perspective" by A Ray, Assistant Engineer and Member EEFI, \Yest Bengal State Committee, also highlighted the major maladies of the national energy policy. Conceding the claim that India's power generation capacity has increased 20 times during the period 1950 -1983 and the amount of