The noted scientist has been appointed as the director of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, TN.
The incumbent director P R Vasudeva Rao retired on August 31st.
Murty was a Gold Medallist from Jawaharlal Nehru technological University, Kakinada and had also bagged the Homi Bhabha prize for standing first in the training school and later obtained a doctoral degree from the Homi Bhabha National Institute.
Before being appointed as the Director of the atomic research body, he served as the Director of Electronics and Instrumentation and Radiological Safety Group.
His group was behind setting up of the indigenous instrumentation and control systems from the 500MW fast breeder reactor (FBR)coming up at Kalpakkam.
About IGCAR
- Established in 1971 by Department of Atomic Energy to focus on Fast Breeder Reactor science and technology, which was Dr. Vikram Sarabhai’s vision.
- Initially named Reactor Research Centre (RCC), it was remaned as IGCAR by the then PM Rajiv Gandhi, in 1985.
- Apart from a Fast Breeder Test Reactor and a 500 MW prototype FBR using mixed oxide fuel,the establishment also houses two commercial Pressurized Heavy Water reactors being run by NPCIL.
- The KAlpakkam MINI research reactor (KAMINI) and BHAVINI (a commercial PFBR being run by NPCIL) are located here.
- The 1000MW nuclear reactor for the Arihant class submarine was also built here.
- The facility also has a reprocessing unit with the capacity to reprocess 100 tonnes of plutonium annually