A joint research team of Osmania University and Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) from Hyderabad made a major discovery of finding large quantities of uranium reserves in Srisailam forests.
Nuclear power plants in India might get a significant boost in the country after the team researched around Srisailam of Kadapa basin in Andhra Pradesh. The part of Kadapa basin also extends over Telangana state. The team used latest equipment to detect the radioactive element in Chennakesavula Gutta and Padra villages. The quality of the precious mineral in both the areas is superior and even comparable to that of Canada and Australia.
This is not the first time that the AMD is discovering uranium reserves in Telangana and Andhra. They did find them in Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Karimnagar, Guntur and Kadapa districts. According to officials, Andhra Pradesh alone has around seven lakh tonnes of uranium reserves especially in Kadapa basin while Telangana has around one lakh tonne of them. Both put together would contribute around 25% of India’s total uranium reserves.
A nuclear power plant has been planned in Srikakulam district and the Srisailam reserves are expected to be a main source for India’s N-power plants. However, there have been protests from environmental activists over the proposed nuclear power plant in Srikakulam and this discovery might trigger another one.