Finally, Nuclear Liability Bill moves towards consensus
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COMMENTS 
The government and the Opposition have been at loggerheads over the issue of financial liability. The T Subbarami Reddy Committee held its 25th meeting this week and is understood to have fixed a timetable for clearance of the Bill
The decks appear to have been cleared for the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, with consensus finally emerging on incorporation of a crucial clause relating to the government and supplier’s financial liability for faulty equipment.
Since nuclear plants in India are operated by the government under the aegis of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, financial liability in case of an accident will principally be with the State. Also, equipment suppliers, mainly foreign, will be made to pay compensation if the equipment is found to be faulty.
The parliamentary standing committee on the Bill, headed by T Subbarami Reddy, has incorporated several changes. It is believed that while the liability of a nuclear plant’s operator has been fixed at Rs 1,000 crore, up from Rs 500 crore, the government’s is Rs 2,300 crore. Indian insurance companies are ready to provide insurance cover to nuclear facilities up to Rs 400 crore; the rest will be arranged from foreign companies.
The committee is also likely to suggest extending the period of damages claims by victims, from the current 10 years from the time of a nuclear incident to more than 15 years. At present, Clause 18 of the Bill states that the right to claim compensation for any nuclear damage caused by a nuclear incident shall diminish if a claim is not made within a period of 10 years from the date of the incident.
There are indications that the government would like to bring the amended Bill before Parliament by August 10 and ensure that it is cleared in the monsoon session itself. Reddy said: “We are working hard to submit our report early. We are evolving a consensus and I am satisfied with the deliberations.”
The defence secretary, banking heads, and chairmen of the Atomic Energy Commission, Insurance Regulatory Commission, and Tata Memorial Hospital appeared before a marathon meeting of the committee. More than a dozen representatives of ministries and departments, NGOs, trade unions and media houses too were present.
A section of committee members underlined the fact that the passage of the Bill was crucial for international civil nuclear cooperation and not just to benefit American companies. The committee has held 25 meetings to discuss the Bill so far.
Source: DNA, August 5, 2010
The Indian Express, August 5, 2010
Press Trust of India, August 4, 2010