Govt beats hasty retreat on nuclear liability bill in LS

New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) In a sudden decision, the
Indian Government Monday beat a hasty retreat in the Lok Sabha
by not introducing a bill that seeks to cap liability in case
of nuclear accidents, a move that came in the face of strong
opposition from political parties.

The introduction of the Civil Liability for Nuclear
Damage Bill, 2010, listed in the House business for the day,
was deferred in a last-minute turnaround by the government
which said isssues raised by the Opposition members "are being
examined".
"I have a request from Minister Prithviraj Chavan that
government does not intend to introduce the Civil Liability
for Nuclear Damage Bill today," Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar
announced in the House that had the entire Opposition on its
feet demanding the reasons for deferring the measure.
While the government did not not give any reasons in
the House for its decision to defer introduction of the bill,
Minister of State for Atomic Energy Prithvi Raj Chavan told
reporters later that "notices were received in the morning
from some members of their intention to oppose this Bill.
Those issues are being examined."
He said government would try to meet these objections
formally or informally. "There is no no urgency to introduce
the bill," he said in reply to questions indicating it may not
not be tabled before Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian
Parliament) breaks for a month-long recess Tuesday.
The Opposition attacked the Bill saying it was intended
to bail out US suppliers of nuclear reactors in case of
accidents by capping the liability of operators at Rs 300
crore while the overall liability is capped at Rs 2,200 crore.
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