'N-deal has non-proliferation benefits'

A civil nuclear deal with India has non-proliferation benefits because more Indian facilities then can be brought under safeguards, a US Energy department official told a Congressional panel.

William Tobey, deputy administrator for Non Proliferation in the Energy department's National Nuclear Security Administration made these remarks before the House Appropriations Sub Committee on Energy while defending the budgetary allocations for the department's non-proliferation programmes.

He was asked to comment by a Democratic lawmaker on a perception that America was adopting different yardsticks with countries on the subject of non-proliferation.

"I admit that it's a difficult issue. With respect to India, the agreement that we're seeking is one that will have net non-proliferation benefits. More facilities will be under safeguards than otherwise would be the case," Tobey said, replying to the query by Congressman Ed Pastor of Arizona.

"And it's likely that India's nuclear power industry will increase significantly over the coming years. If that happens, the ability to bring more of those facilities under safeguards is even more important," he said.