Mumbai: Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar has again put his weight behind the Indo-US nuclear deal, saying ''history will not forgive us'' if we fail to clinch it.

''Here is a chance. Without compromising on our principles, we can bridge energy security for the future," Kakodkar said while delivering a lecture on `Evolving Indian Nuclear Programme: Rationale and Perspectives', organised by the Indian Institute of Sciences in Bangalore yesterday.

He said we needed nuclear energy and our uranium resources can only meet (power generation) up to 10,000 MW. We need to augment supply from abroad till we mine our uranium reserves, he said.

''Our reactors are operating at 50 to 55 per cent due to mismatch between uranium supply and need. Earlier we were operating reactors at 70 to 80 per cent,'' Kakodkar pointed out.

He, however, refused to go into the politics of the nuclear agreement.

Kakodkar's statement comes in the background of the Left parties' strong opposition to the Indo-US deal and a reluctant stand adopted by other opposition parties, including the SP.

Responding to reporters' queries on time-line for approaching the IAEA for a safeguards agreement and if the deal can be wrapped up by year-end, Kakodkar said: "The sooner, the better. But things are not in my hands."