Need Bill,but with changes,say panel members

With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signalling the governments willingness to refer the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill to the Standing Committee to accommodate the Oppositions concerns,all eyes are now on the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy,many of whom appear to be in favour of a Liability Bill while opposing certain provisions in the current Bill.

The members of the Standing Committee The Indian Express spoke to appeared united in appreciating the need for a Bill despite their objection to certain provisions in the present Bill. Even the SP,whose chief Mulayam Singh Yadav heads the Standing Committee,toned down its opposition to the Bill,with its spokesperson Mohan Singh saying on Wednesday the absence of a proper liability Bill poses grave danger for the common public. That is why the country requires a Nuclear Liability Bill. The SP feels that a proper liability would be beneficial for the country given the countrys nuclear power generation plans. However,he outlined the partys objections to certain provisions in the present Bill related to lower ceiling

of liability on the operators and absence of provisions

for liability of the suppliers

to the nuclear power generation units.

BJP MP Ganesh Singh,a member of the Standing Committee,said: We are not against a Nuclear Liability Bill. We are opposed to the current format of the Bill that puts the burden on the government and public here while leaving the suppliers out of any liability.

Even the Left representative in the Standing Committee echoed similar sentiments. We oppose the Nuclear Liability Bill in its present form. It is an attempt to protect the interests of the US and its nuclear industry. The legislation is in continuation of the Indo-US nuclear deal, said CPM MP M B Rajesh.

BJD MP Nityanand Pradhan,another member of the Standing Committee,said: The issue is yet to be referred to the Committee. The country needs a liability Bill,but certainly not of this kind.