Govt agrees to drop 'intent' from N-liability bill

New Delhi, Aug 25: The government has reportedly agreed to drop the word 'intent' from clause 17(b) of the contentious Civil Nuclear Liability Bill, which was tabled in the Parliament on Wednesday, Aug 25.

Compromising on pressure from the Opposition, the government has agreed to drop the controversial 'intent' clause, which states that an operator of a nuclear plant can seek damages only if an accident has occurred due to the intent of the supplier or its employees.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that the amended clause should be referred back to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

While the saffron party has made it clear that it would be very difficult to support the bill unless the government relents and brings back the original proposed legislation, the Left Front is accusing the government of diluting the suppliers' liability to appease US.

Besides the political protests, a goup of Greenpeace activists demonstrated against the nuclear liability bill, which is part of a landmark 2008 atomic energy pact with the United States that granted India access to foreign nuclear technology, outside the Parliament.

Despite all the protests, the government, which is determined to get the controversial bill passed soon, is confident of resolving the deadlock over the issue, sources have revealed.

Earlier on Aug 20, the cabinet cleared 18 amendments, including the one which deals with a clause on liability of a supplier in the event of a nuclear accident.

OneIndia News