Mangalore: I an address to National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NIT-K) at Suratkal on Saturday, February 25 during Convocation ceremonies at the 9th annual function Dr. S.K. Banejee, a senior nuclear scientist and secretary to Deptt. Of Atomic Energy, GOI asked graduates to convert “made in India” economy to designed in India by constant research essential to growth.

Technologies had to be developed for the early implementation of thorium fuel cycle in India, he Observed.

India was sufficiently experienced to operate a research reactor Kamini based on thorium 233-U, fuel in Kalpakkam (Chennai) and also design and advanced heavy water reactor to develop enabling technologies, needed for Thorium-based systems in BARC, Mumbai.

Indian nuclear programme was safe, he added. S.C. Tripathi of NIT-K presided.

Prof. Sandeep San Cheti director welcomed the gathering. 1132 students passed out of NIT-K for 2010-11 as new graduates in B.Tech and MCA, or other degrees.

37 graduates secured gold medals for academic excellence.