Smaller atomic power stations
The Atomic Energy Commission is considering the possibility of establishing a series of smaller atomic power stations after the Tarapur, Rana Pratapsagar and Madras nuclear power projects are completed, it is reliably learnt. The proposal is to locate the stations at places not less than 500 miles from the coalfields. Because of the long haulage the cost of generation of thermal power is comparatively high in such places. One site highly favoured by A.E.C. experts for technical reasons, on the basis of data collected so far, is near Surat in Gujarat. The location of an atomic power plant here [Ahmedabad], is, however, dependent upon the early completion of the multipurpose Ukai project on the Tapti as otherwise the water requirements of the station cannot be assured. The scheme for a second generation of nuclear power stations which is now in the preliminary stage, is expected to take concrete shape by the end of the Fourth Plan. The Tarapur plant is to be commissioned in October 1968 and the other two projects, work on which is progressing, are likely to be ready by the beginning of the Fifth Plan. The proposed new plants will most probably be based on natural uranium and have a capacity of about 200 megawatt each. The Tarapur station will use slightly enriched uranium (meaning the Uranium-235 content will be raised slightly above the proportion in which it occurs in nature). It will have an initial capacity of 400 mW. A plan to raise the capacity by 600 mW is under consideration. About 5,000 people are working at the Tarapur site. The Project Administrator, Mr. M.N. Chakravarti, told a party of visiting journalists last week-end that the work was going on according to schedule despite several handicaps, including a strike some time ago.
Red Guards ransack home of Mme Sun Yat-Sen
Red Guards have ransacked the Shanghai residence of Madame Soong Ching-ling, widow of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, founder of the first Chinese Republic according to reports in anti-Communist Chinese-language newspapers here [Hong Kong, September 21]. They quoted travellers from China as source for the news. The reports said the Red Guards had accused the 76-year-old Mme. Soong of living a luxurious life and demanded that she give up her money and goods to the State. Mme. Soong holds the post of Vice-Chairman in the Chinese Government. She is a sister of Mme. Chiang Kai-shek, wife of the Taiwan President. Mme. Soong has not been prominent in public since the Red Guards movement began about a month ago. But the Soviet news agency Tass reported from Peking last week that Prime Minister Chou En-lai had asked the Red Guards not to criticise her. Meanwhile, the power struggle seems to be continuing within China’s leadership. The Liberation Army Daily , mouthpiece of Marshal Lin Biao, charged a plot was being prepared by revisionists and academic authorities. It said “revisionists who are following the capitalist road and bourgeois reactionary academic authorities are still in power.” It was the second admission in six days that China’s purge had failed to root out all opponents. Marshal Lin, leader of the purge, made the first admission at a Peking rally last week.
First woman paratrooper of Army
Capt. (Miss) Farida Rehana of the Army Medical Corps became the first woman paratrooper of the Indian Army when she successfully completed the basic course in paratrooping by taking her fifth and final para jump on Monday at the Paratroopers’ Training School here [Agra, September 20]. She took the Jump from an I.A.F. Fairchild Packet C 119 and glided down safely to the dropping zone. Later in the day she was presented her wings at the passing-out parade of the Training School by Air Commodore S.A. Hussain, Air Officer Commanding, I.A.F. Station, Agra. The 26-year-old Captain who comes from a well-to-do Muslim family of Mysore has a number of achievements to her credit.
