nuclear-news

India’s Nuclear Liability Bill not all plain sailing

BJP, Left to seek closer scrutiny of nuclear liability Bill, THE HINDU, Sandeep Dikshit, 15 March 2010, NEW DELHI: The government has scheduled for Monday the introduction of a Bill in the Lok Sabha limiting compensation in case of a nuclear accident. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left parties have resolved to oppose the Bill and seek its referral to the Standing Committee for closer scrutiny….The BJP, the Left parties and environmental organisations are opposed to several clauses, including compensation from foreign companies in case of an accident. They are also against another clause that frees operators from any liability if the accident was due to grave national disaster of exceptional character, armed conflict or act of terrorism.

The passage of the Bill is crucial to operationalise the India-U.S. civil nuclear agreement and allow the entry of private U.S. companies which have already been assigned land for a nuclear park. France and Russia have also been informed of land being earmarked for their companies and the Bill will also benefit them, said Department of Atomic Energy Secretary Srikumar Banerjee.

The government is keen to get the Bill passed….The Opposition also feels several other provisions of the Bill need to be discussed and clarified by the Standing Committee. These include the proposed Nuclear Damage Claims Commission and a time limit of 10 years for claiming relief….
“Any such move [to limit compensation] will be in defiance of Supreme Court judgments and will be contrary to the interest of the people of India and their fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution,” – jurist Soli Sorabjee

The Hindu : Front Page : BJP, Left to seek closer scrutiny of nuclear liability Bill

March 15, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactors