Speaking at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) on the occasion of ISO 9001 award-giving ceremony to the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC), the AEC chief said it would be a gross misconception to think that the special hike in the DAE budget was meant for the weapons programme. ``We are quite happy with this increased budget. The amount will be given to the NPC to complete the ongoing power projects. Last year, the budgetary hike was around 350 crore rupees, and this year, we have got an hike of 930 crore rupees - a 60 per cent hike,'' said Chidambaram.

The NPC has to be given full support till it reaches the threshold target of 10,000 MW, said Chidambaram. ``Once they reach this,they will be able to sustain themselves and generate their own funds for new projects,'' he said. Accepting the ISO 9001 award from the former AEC chief Dr H N Sethna the chairperson and managing director of NPC, Dr Y S R Prasad, said the power plants have achieved a capacity factor of 71 per cent. ``As of today, all our power plants are functioning at near-full capacity. The ten nuclear plants are contributing 1800 MW to the national pool,'' Prasad said.Prasad said the two units in Kaiga and two others in Rajasthan will go critical within two years. ``After much delays, they are now progressing in a fast pace. The basic issue at NPC is to thrive for self-reliance and excellence,'' he said.

Sethna said the nuclear option for power generation is inevitable. ``The availability of coal and natural gas is limited. So, India cannot do without nuclear power,'' he said. ``But, our political outlook should change because, we waste much time and energy in getting permission and fulfilling bureaucraticformalities,'' he added.