The centre's decision to set up five new nuclear power projects has caused concern among anti-nuclear activists. They say these projects will feed India's weapons programme. "India's nuclear programme has always been used as a cover for its weapons programme,' says Suren Gadekar, an anti-nuclear activist.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd runs 16 plants capable of producing 3,900 MW of power. Seven more with a combined capacity of 3,000 MW are nearly over.

Plants operate at less than 50 per cent capacity. The department of atomic energy (DAE) has "a history of failure' when it comes to generating power, says Sukla Sen of the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace, an anti-nuclear network. "Even if DAE meets its projections of 20,000 MW by 2020, it will only be 8-10 per cent of installed capacity.'

Also, say watchdog groups, India's safety record is poor. About 300 accidents have occurred, leading to radiation leaks and deaths.