KAKRAPAR: It was a red letter day in the history of India's nuclear power generation. The work on the first pair of indigenously designed 700 MW pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited ( NCPIL ) started at Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) with the first pouring of concrete (FPC) on Monday.The Rs 8,000 crore worth of 700 MW PHWR project known as KAPP 3&4 is the latest state-of-the-art technology nuclear power reactors which have been designed by NCPIL. Both the nuclear reactors, which together would produce 1,400 MW electricity, will begin commercial operation in 2015. While the other two reactors of same capacity based in Rawatbhata in Rajasthan would start commercial operation in 2016.The KAPP has two nuclear power reactors of 220 MW each. With the commissioning of the 700 MW PHWRs in 2015, the KAPP will have an installed capacity of 1,840 MW power generation."It is a historic day for us at NCPIL," chairman and managing director (CMD) of NCPIL Dr S K Jain said at the FPC ceremony. "Kakrapar is the first place from where we started our long journey of work on about 14 such nuclear reactors in some important locations in the country."According to Jain, NCPIL would be working on about 8 700 MW PHWRs in states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujaratt by 2012. The NCPIL has financial sanction from the central government for starting about 10 700 MW PHWRs under a five-year programme.Asked about the issue faced by NCPIL in Mithi Virdi in Bhavnagar, Jain said, "We have earmarked the commissioning of 1,000 MW PHWRs in Bhavnagar by 2018. There is little dissatisfaction among the villagers over giving their lands and some misconception about the ill-effects of radiation. We want to assure all co-operation to the farmers and villagers in Bhavnagar as we envisage 6,000 MW of power generation from this area"NPCIL's installed capacity will reach 9,580 MW by 2016 with the progressive completion of the nuclear power reactors under construction. By 2020, NCPIL has a vision to reach 20,000 MW or more and 63,000 MW by year 2032 by setting up nuclear reactors based on indigenously designed 700 MW PHWRs and Light Water Reactors of 1,000 MW or large size reactors.Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Dr Srikumar Banerjee, who was also present, said, "Indigenously designed nuclear reactors are more economical than the imported ones. We see ourselves as the fifth major supplier of nuclear reactors of small size in the world."He said nuclear power generation is the best way to address the global warming issue. Most of the developed nations are for carbon-free economy. India has a per capita power consumption of 700 KW--the average per capita consumption in the world is 2,500 KW--and we have to take this to 2,000 KW in the coming years.