Aligarh, Mar 1 (IANS): The development and security of the nation are two sides of the same coin and India has achieved its rank among the top atomic countries on its own, says S. Kailas, director, physics division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai.

Addressing at the National Science Day programme in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) here Thursday to honour Nobel Laureate, Sir C.V. Raman for the discovery of Raman Effect, Kailas said the shortage of energy resources is a major challenge and India would need to generate nuclear energy to fulfill the need.

He highlighted the role of Homi Bhabha and Jawaharlal Nehru for the development of atomic energy in the country.

According to Kailas, 20 reactors are currently operating in the country and 30 percent of food products and fruits were spoiled due to power shortage.

AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Zameer Uddin Shah in his speech said the university had conferred the D.Sc. degree, honoris causa, on Sir C. V. Raman in the year 1933.

He said that India needed to concentrate on nuclear energy and that nuclear plants in our country were safe as there were no accidents reported till date.