UDHAGAMANDALAM: M R Srinivasan, the nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman who was instrumental in the development of India’s nuclear power programme, died in Ooty on Tuesday. He was 95.Srinivasan had the distinction of working with Homi J Bhabha on the construction of India’s first nuclear research reactor, Apsara, which went critical in Aug 1956. His career was marked by associations with the most hallowed names in India’s atomic power programme, including Vikram Sarabhai, Homi Sethna and Dr Raja Ramanna.He was founder-chairman of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. Under his leadership, 18 power units were developed.In 1987, Malur Ramasamy Srinivasan became secretary of department of atomic energy and chief of Atomic Energy Commission. The same year, he took charge of Nuclear Power Corporation of India. On Monday, Srinivasan was admitted to a private hospital in Ooty after he complained of discomfort. He died after suffering cardiac arrest Tuesday. Born on Jan 5, 1930 in Karnataka, Srinivasan finished his schooling at Mysore.He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1950 from UVCE, then a new engineering college founded by M Visvesvaraya.After his masters in 1952, he was awarded a PhD by McGill University, Montreal, in 1954. Specialising in gas turbine technology, he joined department of atomic energy in Sept 1955 and worked alongside Bhabha. In Aug 1959, Srinivasan was appointed principal project engineer for the construction of India’s first atomic power station. He went on to become the chief project engineer of Madras atomic power station. He held key positions of national importance, which included director of power projects engineering division in DAE and chairman of Nuclear Power Board wherein he oversaw the planning, execution, and operation of all nuclear power projects across country. He was awarded a Padma Vibhushan in 2015 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to India’s nuclear energy programme.V S Ramamurthy, former secretary, department of science and technology, called Srinivasan one of the earliest architects of DAE. “I considered MRS a walking dictionary of nuclear power in the country,” Ramamurthy told TOI. “In the mid-1980s, MRS was the first one in country to organise a public debate on nuclear safety, in Bengaluru.His knowledge of the power reactor scenario was fantastic, and Kalpakkam reactor is an example for which he was in-charge then,” he said. PM Narendra Modi condoled Srinivasan’s passing. “Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr M R Srinivasan, a stalwart of India’s nuclear energy programme. His instrumental role in developing critical nuclear infrastructure has been foundational to our being self-reliant in the energy sector.He is remembered for his inspiring leadership of Atomic Energy Commission. India will always be grateful to him for advancing scientific progress and mentoring many young scientists. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour.Om Shanti,” he posted on X. Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi said Srinivasan’s visionary leadership and scientific acumen were central to building the nation’s self-sufficiency in nuclear energy. TN CM MK Stalin called Srinivasan a “pillar of India’s atomic energy programme” and “a true nation builder”.