Nuclear Liability Bill to be introduced in LS

New Delhi, Mar 14: The goverment will introduced a crucial nuclear bill in the Lok Sabha on Mar 15, that seeks to provide compensation for victims in case of nuclear accidents.

The Bill provides for maximum amount of liability to paid by the nuclear plant operator is Rs 300 crore in case of any nuclear accidents.

In addition to that, the Bill also provides the government the right to increase or decrease the amount of liability by the nuclear plant operator.

According to the Bill, the operator would not be liable for any nuclear damage if the incident occured due to 'grave national disaster of exceptional character', armed conflict or act of terrorism and suffered by person on account of his own negligence.

However, even before the introduction of the Nuclear Liability Bill, the oppositions have geared up to oppose the Bill.

"At the introduction itself we will oppose unless the government assures us that it would be sent to a Parliamentary Standing Committee," CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury said.

Asked about the liability amount, Yechury said that the issue raked up in the discussion.

"All these issues are there and we will discuss all that in the standing committee," Yechury said.

But former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman and key architect of the Indo-US nuclear deal Anil Kakodkar said that the liability seemed fair enough.

"It was important that this amount was not kept too low. I think this is the appropriate and reasonable level," he said adding that it was “quite balanced and needs to be passed in its present form."

Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon had met BJP leader Arun Jaitley with regard to the Bill.

Jaitley is said to have voiced his concerns with regard to Bill. But Menon has not yet replied to the queries put forward by Jaitley.

The Union Cabinet approved the Bill on Nov 20, 2009.

OneIndia News