Bokaro, March 1: Mineral-rich Jharkhand has both the power and prowess to split an atom, eminent scientist and director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) Ratan Kumar Sinha said here today.

Buoyed by the handsome 31 per cent increase in the 2011-12 budget allocation for atomic energy, the premier multi-disciplinary nuclear research cradle of the country is hoping to expand its base and Sinha said it would willingly extend a hand if the state wished to exploit its vast uranium reserve.

He, however, clarified that no proposal on establishing atomic reactors in Jharkhand had been drafted yet.

The N-scientist, who was here visiting his brother in Sector IV-A, maintained atomic energy could put the country in the global big league. Fuel like coal or oil or gas would not last forever, he explained. “Atoms alone can fulfil the growing demand for energy,” Sinha added.

He pointed out that there were 20 atomic reactors in the country at present and necessary steps were being taken to increase this energy production base. “India is coming forward with more atomic reactors while there is a massive search for new uranium mines, which will help the country be self-sufficient in this field,” he added.

Jadugoda, a small township some 35km from Jamshedpur in East Singhbhum, has abundant deposits of this radioactive heavy metal.

A mechanical engineering graduate and 1972 Patna University topper, Sinha completed a year-long course at Barc Training School before he joined the reactor engineering division of the N-cradle in 1973.

He served as director of reactor design and development group and director of design, manufacturing and automation group before catapulting himself to the hot seat of Barc chief in May last year.

Guarded by a small army of commandos, Sinha left for Mumbai later in the morning after his hurricane 36-hour tour of Bokaro steel city.