Par panel puts N-bill on fast track; report in monsoon session

New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) The Indian Parliamentary
committee examining the controversial nuclear liability bill
is expediting work to enable submission of its report to the
Rajya Sabha during the monsoon session that begins on July 26.
After a series of meetings, that began on June 8, the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology,
Environment and Forests is expected to take up clause-by
-clause consideration of the bill later this week.
Sources said that the committee, chaired by Congress MP T
Subbirami Reddy, is keen to submit its report on the Civil
Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 during the monsoon
session.
The Bill is a key piece of legislation required to
operationalise the civil nuclear cooperation pacts India has
signed with several countries, particularly the US.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian
Parliament) Secretariat has announced extension of the term of
the Committee till July 27. The Bill, that was introduced in
the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) on May 7 amid
stiff opposition, was referred to the Committee on May 12
which was asked to submit a report within two months.
At its next meeting, the Committee will hear views of
experts like former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman P K
Iyengar, strategist Brahma Chellaney, former diplomat Kanwal
Sibal and legal expert Shams Khwaja.
Besides, top officials from the Department of Atomic
Energy, Ministries of Labour, Agriculture, Health and Family
Welfare and Home Affairs will also present their views.
The committee is understood to be of the view that the Rs
500 crore cap on compensation in case of an accident needs to
be enhanced substantially, and this is expected to be among
its key recommendations on the issue.
The panel is also believed to have opined that liability
has to be "pinned down" on the suppliers of the equipment for
a nuclear power plant, in case of an accident.
The Committee is also likely to suggest modification of
Clause 35 of the Bill that seeks to exclude the jurisdiction
of civil courts on matters being adjudicated by the Claim
Commissioner.
A view expressed by a large section of members on
limiting the purview of Bill to state-run nuclear plant
operators like Nuclear Power Corporation of India and Bhartiya
Nabhakiya Vidyut Nigam is also expected to be reflected in the
report.
"This bill should not hold good in case private sector is
an operator. Such an eventuality could be covered under a
separate legislation," a member of the Committee said.
Several parties have opposed the bill in its present form
contending that the Rs 500 crore cap on liability to be paid
by the operator of a nuclear plant was too little. PTI SKU
MRD