The government on Monday said it can look at putting in place additional environmental safeguards to ensure safety of the proposed nuclear reactors in Jaitapur in the aftermath of the tsunami in Japan that has endangered the atomic power plants there.

"...Based on the technical reviews the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) does, we will certainly be in touch with them and if additional safeguards have to be built in as part of the environmental clearance, we will certainly look at it," environment minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi.

He was reacting to a question whether the government is going to have a relook at the Jaitapur nuclear power project in Maharashtra amid demands for a reconsideration in the wake of the deadly earthquake that caused damage in a nuclear facility in Japan.

Ramesh said the NPCIL is having a relook at all safety systems and designs.

"This is appropriately a subject that has to be dealt with the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)," the minister said.

Ramesh said prime minister Manmohan Singh has made a detailed statement in Parliament and has ordered a review of safety systems at all the nuclear plants in the country.

Terming the tragedy that has hit Japan as "horrendous", Ramesh said, "The nuclear catastrophe is a matter of concern for all of us."

Earlier, addressing a conclave on Business and Climate Change organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Ramesh said India should "go beyond the immediate crisis" that has hit the nuclear industry and recognise the nuclear option.

He said the country will have a global footprint as far as nuclear technology is concerned.

"We would actually in a couple of years from now have a global footprint as far as Indian technology is concerned. This could be in the area of nuclear energy...this could be in the area of coal technology," the minister said.

In all these areas Indian industry has the potential, skill, capacity and institutional resources, he said.

He said industry and government have to work together to deal with challenges posed by climate change that will "affect India most profoundly."