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Opposition in Indian Parliament to Liability Bill that would protect foreign nuclear companies

“What kind of a joke is this? If we are the victims of an accident, our tax money will be used to pay us compensation. Why should we shield the foreign suppliers of equipment?”…. “This is not America, this is not Russia. In India, the density of population is very high. The impact of a nuclear accident would be enormous.”

Indian parliament introduces liability bill that would allow U.S. companies to set up reactors By Rama Lakshmi Washington Post Foreign Service  May 7, 2010;

NEW DELHI — A controversial law to establish a compensation system for nuclear accidents — a key step to allowing American companies to set up reactors in India — was introduced in parliament Friday, as opposition lawmakers accused the government of favoring U.S. and business interests over the rights of the people.

Opponents chanted “shame, shame” as minister of science and technology Prithviraj Chavan moved the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill in the lower house of parliament. They then left the chamber in protest.

“We tried our best to bring changes to this bill, but because of the stubborn attitude of this government, we have decided to walk out,” said Sushma Swaraj, a member of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. Other members called the bill “illegal” and “unconstitutional” and accused the government of acting under American pressure.

The opposition lawmakers said the bill takes away victims’ right to bring compensation claims to court in the event of a nuclear mishap.

The bill, which has been the subject of heated debate for months in India, seeks to place the burden of damages solely on the nuclear plant operator and not on suppliers of equipment. It is controversial for Indians because it renews troubling memories of compensation battles in the aftermath of a poisonous gas leak from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal in 1984.

The liability legislation is one of the last steps needed to fully activate a landmark civilian nuclear agreement between India and the United States that will allow American companies to set up reactors in India……..

Until India passes a liability law, American companies such as GE and Westinghouse cannot begin operations there,……………

Critics of the bill say that it places legal liability for mishaps on the state-run operator of the plant, the Nuclear Power Corp. of India, and not on the private suppliers and contractors — many of which would be foreign companies. The bill places a compensation cap of $100 million on the state-run operator and allows compensation directly from the Indian government of up to $450 million.

“What kind of a joke is this? If we are the victims of an accident, our tax money will be used to pay us compensation. Why should we shield the foreign suppliers of equipment?” said Murli Manohar Joshi, a member of parliament with the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, said at a recent meeting. “This is not America, this is not Russia. In India, the density of population is very high. The impact of a nuclear accident would be enormous.”………..After Friday’s walkout, a government official said that the government may agree to defer voting and refer the bill to a review committee of lawmakers. Indian parliament introduces liability bill that would allow U.S. companies to set up reactors

May 8, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics | antinuclear, nuclear costs, radiation, reactors