Dr. Sekhar Basu (20 September 1952 – 24 September 2020) was an Indian nuclear scientist who served as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).[1] He also served as the Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the Project Director of Nuclear Submarine Program, and later as the Chief Executive of the Nuclear Recycle Board at Bhabha Atomic Research Center .[2] He was a recipient of India's fourth highest civilian honor Padma Shri in 2014.[3]
After completion of a year at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre's training school, he joined the Reactor Engineering Division in the same institute in 1975. He went on to work as a project director of the Nuclear Submarine program and as the chief executive of the Nuclear Recycle Board at BARC India.[3]
In his role as the Chief Executive of the Nuclear Recycle Board, at BARC, Basu's research spanned design, development, and operation of nuclear reprocessing and nuclear waste management. He was involved in the design and building of reprocessing plants, fuel storage facilities, and nuclear waste treatment facilities at Trombay, Maharashtra, Tarapur, Maharashtra, and Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.[8]
Nuclear power deployment
Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) construction in Kakrapur, Gujarat, during Basu's term as the secretary at the DAE.
As the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) between 2015 and 2018, Basu supported initiatives to accelerate the pace of nuclear power deployment in India. In May 2017, the Government of India gave its approval to DAE's plan for construction of 10 pressurized heavy-water reactors (PHWRs) and two pressurized water reactors (PWRs).[9] In this period, the DAE took pm simultaneous construction of 21 reactors, with the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam being in advanced stages of commissioning.[10] In this period, DAE also initiated actions for increased uranium exploration and mining in India.[11]
He also oversaw the launch of various projects at the Department of Atomic Energy, including the commercial power production of the second 1000MWe nuclear reactor at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, and construction of two further nuclear power plants, KKNPP Units 3 and 4, of the same capacity, starting in June 2017.[12][13]
In November 2016, during his tenure at the DAE, he signed an agreement for India to be an associate member of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The agreement would allow Indian companies to bid for engineering contracts at the CERN, and would also allow for Indian engineers to participate in projects at the CERN.[18][19]
During his time at the DAE, the agency drove initiatives to develop radiotherapy equipment and low cost radiotherapy treatment for developing countries. Bhabhatron, a low cost radiotherapy machine and a digital simulator was shared with Tanzania, Kenya, and Mongolia. Efforts were also undertaken for the development of indigenous cancer care drugs.[21][22]
In this period, he also coordinated with the Government of India's Startup IndiaSkill India program, to provide spin-off technologies available for entrepreneurs to use.[23]
Basu died from COVID-19 in Kolkata on 24 September 2020, four days after his 68th birthday, during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. He was also suffering from kidney ailments at the time of his death.[5][25]