N-scientist Sekhar Basu dies of Covid

Kolkata: Eminent

nuclear scientist

Sekhar Basu, 68, succumbed to Covid at a private hospital in Kolkata early on Thursday. A former director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and a secretary to the government of India’s department of atomic energy, Basu had been admitted to hospital on September 15 with low oxygen saturation and kidney ailments.

Trained as a mechanical engineer, Basu was a former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and received the Padma Shri in 2014. He is survived by his wife, mother and son. His son is based in New Zealand.

Basu played a key role in the design, development and construction of India’s first nuclear plants at Tarapur, Maharashtra, and Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, and is credited with having evolved strategies for safe radioactive disposal in gaseous, liquid and solid forms. He was also involved in the effective management of nuclear waste, which included segregation, characterization, handling, treatment, conditioning and monitoring. As the project director of the prototype marine nuclear propulsion plant and, subsequently, as chief executive of the Nuclear Recycle Board, he guided programmes related to the development and operation of nuclear recycle plants, involving fuel reprocessing and nuclear waste management.

Offering his condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “I join the atomic energy fraternity in grieving the passing away of Dr Sekhar Basu, a renowned nuclear scientist who played a key role in establishing India as a lead country in nuclear science and engineering. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Om Shanti!”

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, too, sent out a tweet saying, “Grieved to hear about the passing away of veteran nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Dr Sekhar Basu. My condolences to his family and colleagues.”

Nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar, former AEC chairman with whom Basu had worked closely since 1996, said his death is a great personal loss. “He had an unparalleled ability to take up difficult projects, iron out difficulties and make them successful. He did excellent work in the nuclear submarine reactor and nuclear recycle programme. The country is performing well in these areas due to his contributions,” said Kakodkar.