Nuclear liability bill deferred in Indian Lower House

New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) Apprehending trouble from
opposition, Indian government on Monday deferred introduction
in the Lower House Lok Sabha of nuclear liability bill which
is a key step in operationalisation of the landmark Indo-US
nuclear deal.

"I have a request from the Minister Prithviraj Chavan
that government does not intend to introduce the Civil
Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill today (Monday)," Lok Sabha
Speaker Meira Kumar announced in the House.
The bill was mentioned in the list of business for the day
and the government's decision sparked protests the opposition.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj demanded that since
the matter was listed, a motion had to be moved for withdrawal
of the Bill from the agenda.
The Speaker, however, rejected the demand saying that such
a motion cannot be moved as the bill has not been introduced
in the House.
Accepting Speaker's ruling, National Democratic Alliance
working chairman L K Advani said the government should tell
the House why it was not going ahead with introduction of the
bill since it has been listed.
The government move came apparently in view of declaration
by the Left parties and Bhartiya Janata Party that they would
strongly oppose the proposed legislation.
The bill pegs the maximum amount of liability in case of
each nuclear accident at Rs 300 crore to be paid by the
operator of the nuclear plant.
However, the draft bill also has provisions that would
enable the government to either increase or decrease the
amount of liability of any operator. (MORE) PTI SKU
KAB


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