N-plants' safety 'vitally important' after Japan quake: PM

"The tragedy at the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant in Japan has raised world-wide concerns about the safety of nuclear energy as a source of power. It is vitally important to address these concerns," he said.

Speaking at a function after conferring Department of Atomic Energy's Lifetime Achievement Awards 2009, he said people have to be convinced about the safety and security of of India's nuclear power plants. "We should bring greater openness and transparency in the decision making processes relating to our nuclear energy programme and improve our capacity to respond to the public desire to be kept informed about decisions and issues that are of concern to them," he said.

Singh said he would like to see "accountability and transparency" in the functioning of country's nuclear power plants. Asserting that government would take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of plants, the Prime Minister said he has already directed a technical review of all safety systems of nuclear power plants using the best expertise available in the country.

"The future reactors that will be built in India will have to be certified by the Indian regulatory authority and meet its safety standards. This will apply equally to reactors and technologies that are imported from abroad," he said.