India has asked industrialised nations to 'shed the baggage inherited' from the past and allow flow of equipment and technology related to peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the interest of people of developing countries.

Whenever there are no genuine concerns, barriers to deployment of nuclear technologies need to be examined and brought down through pragmatic approach, its representative B Mahtab, MP, told the General Assembly.

Participating in the debate on the report of International Atomic Energy Agency, he said growth of nuclear energy in the developing countries, particularly in fast growing economies with large populations, should be a matter of global interest in view of its potential to protect the earth from irreversible climate changes.

"We must move towards a more peaceful and prosperous world on the basis of plenty of energy available within the reach of all. Mindless controls without addressing the core issue of meeting development aspiration of the needy do not help the situation: rather it makes matters worse," he told the 191-member Assembly.

Emphasising India's commitment to work against proliferation of nuclear weapons, Mahtab said looking from the perspective of a large and growing economy like India, with its small hydrocarbon and depleting coals reserves, the development of nuclear energy based on closed cycle approach enabling fuller use of uranium and thorium is the only way to meet the development aspiration of more than a billion people.

India, therefore, is pursuing a comprehensive R&D programme to explore newer technologies to widen the scope of nuclear energy use, he added.

"Today, we are on a fast-track growth, backed by strong research and development programme, industrial and safety infrastructure," he said.

Detailing India's plan to increase production of nuclear power, Mehtab said two billion people are projected to be added in next 30 years to six billion already inhabiting the earth and another one billion in subsequent 20 years.

Virtually all increase would be in the developing countries with bulk in urban areas. "The core challenge for development would thus be to ensure availability of productive work opportunities and access to basic services," he stressed.

Referring to steep disparity of incomes between rich and the poor nations, he said availability of energy within the reach of everyone could significantly correct the situation.

Stating that energy is the 'engine for empowerment', Mahtab said, "Only the power of atom can make it happen."