LS-LDALL NUCLEAR 3

The government dropped the word "intent" and rephrased
Clause 17(b) after intense negotiations with the opposition
including a couple of meetings convened by Finance Minister
Pranab Mukherjee to break the deadlock.
The original version of the amendment had come under
sharp attack from the BJP and Left parties as it provided for
proving the "intent" of a supplier of causing an accident if
an operator were to claim compensation.
The parties had contended that it was impossible to prove
an intent on the part of suppliers or their employees in case
of an accident.
The controversial word "intent" found its mention in an
earlier government amendment, which was different from the one
recommended by the Parliamentary Committee that examined the
bill.
On allegations that the bill was aimed at benefiting US
companies, Singh said "to say that this is being done to
promote American interest and to help American corporation,
I think, is far from the truth."
He said such charges against him were not new as he had
faced these even in 1992 when he presented the Budget as the
then Finance Minister.
Pointing to senior BJP leader L K Advani, Singh said he
was aware of it and added the whole opposition, with a few
exceptions, demanded his impeachment claiming that the budget
had been prepared in the US.
"To say we have anyway compromised India's national
interest will be a travesty of facts," Singh said apparently
addressing the Left parties which have alleged that the bill
had been drafted to suit American companies.
"History will be the judge," the Prime Minister said as
he pointed to the economic reforms initiated in 1991 when he
was the Finance Minister.
"I leave with the people of this country to judge. It is
with this very motivation that our government has tried to
complete the journey towards ending the regime of nuclear
apartheid," he said.
Chavan also justified the addition of Clause 7, which
provides for government assuming "full liability" for a
nuclear installation not operated by it if it is of the
opinion that it is necessary in public interest. This is
aimed at taking insurance cover for a nuclear installation.
He said that the raise in the compensation cap from Rs
500 crore to Rs 1,500 crore matches a similar provision in
the US.
Making a case for nuclear power, Chavan said though coal
and hydro power plants were important options nuclear energy
cannot be ignored.
While hydel projects caused great displacements, coal was
a dirty fuel considering its impact on the environment and
contribution to global warming. MORE PTI