Govt withdraws changes to N-Bill

The government on Tuesday backed off from its move to propose specific amendments to the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill ...

The government on Tuesday backed off from its move to propose specific amendments to the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill after the Opposition BJP and Left raised strong objections at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology and alleged that the provisions were aimed at diluting the legislation that aims to compensate victims of a nuclear accident.

During the day-long meeting in which top government officials as well as industry federations deposed,the Opposition cautioned the government against moving in a hurry on the Bill. BJP leaders S S Ahluwalia and Rajiv Pratap Rudy were among those who maintained that a couple of sittings would be inadequate to take a comprehensive view of the landmark legislation.

The circulation of a note by the government in the last meeting on June 8,even though it was done informally,was taken up strongly by the members who took Department of Atomic Energy Secretary Srikumar Banerjee to task on the matter,questioning the intent behind the amendments. Banerjee was asked if the Cabinet consent had been taken on the proposed recommendations,following which he is understood to have expressed regrets and assure the members that the government would re-examine the matter.

In the June 8 meeting,the government had suggested a set of five amendments,including the controversial deletion of clause 17 b. This specific clause in the Bill allows for the operator meaning the government to have right to recourse if a nuclear accident resulted from wilful act or gross negligence on the part of the supplier of the material,equipment or services,or of his employee.

The BJP and the Left members dropped hints that the provision was sought to be deleted to help American companies. The Opposition MPs demanded that the cap of Rs 500 crore on compensation to be paid by the operator of a nuclear power plant in the event of an accident be raised.