India developing 200 MW nuclear reactors to power ships
New Delhi, Oct 19: India is developing 200 MW nuclear power reactors, compact in size that can be deployed on commercial ships. “Nuclear power is generated by causing nuclear fission to create heat that leads to electricity production. You can put the reactor wherever you want, even on a ship,” a senior official said here. He said scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) are developing two nuclear power reactors of 55 MW and 200 MW that could be deployed at captive power plants used by energy-intensive companies such as cement manufacturers. “These nuclear reactors are very safe and can even be used to power merchant navy ships,” the official said, sidestepping questions of their use to power nuclear submarines. He said these Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMR) will be the mainstay in the expansion of the share of nuclear power in India’s energy mix. Currently, India operates two home-built nuclear submarines – INS Arihant and INS Arighaat – which are powered by 83 MW reactors. (PTI)
SC issues modified SOP on payment of bail amount
New Delhi, Oct 19: The Supreme Court has modified the standard operating procedure (SOP) for payment of bail amount of poor undertrial prisoners by state governments through district legal services authority (DLSA). The top court said if the undertrial prisoner is not released from jail within a period of seven days of order of grant of bail, then the jail authority should inform the secretary, DLSA. It said that the DLSA secretary upon receiving information would ensure to verify whether the undertrial prisoner has funds in his prisoner’s savings account and if not, then a request will be forwarded to the DLSA within a period of five days. “The District Level Empowered Committee (DLEC) will direct release of funds for surety on the recommendation of DLSA within a period of five days from the date of receipt of the report, pending integration in the Interoperable Criminal Justice System,” the top court said. (PTI)
