New Delhi: The government Thursday refuted charges that the civil nuclear liability bill was being introduced under pressure from the US and said the legislation had been under consideration since 1998 and had nothing to do with the India-US nuclear deal signed in 2008.
"I refute the charges of international pressure," Minister of State in the Prime Minister`s Office (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan told the Rajya Sabha about the bill that seeks to set up a legal mechanism to ensure victims of a nuclear accident are able to claim financial compensation.
"The bill has nothing to do with the Indo-US nuclear deal," Chavan said, adding that the government was bringing the bill because it was serious about setting up nuclear plants for clear power and energy.
The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 is yet to be tabled in parliament but has been in the public domain in the wake of severe opposition against it.
The bill was listed to be introduced in the Lok Sabha but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left parties forced the government to decide against introduction of the legislation in the lower house March 15.
Since then, the government has been unsuccessfully trying to build political consensus over the bill, which opposition parties say limited compensation for victims of any nuclear accident.
"This (the bill) is brought in to give immediate and prompt compensation. This money will be given immediately," the minister said, adding that if victims of any nuclear accident feel that the damages should be more, they could seek more compensation from courts or a relevant authority.
Chavan also denied that the government had any intention to open the atomic sector for private players - both domestic as well as international - in India.
He said that only the government or its companies would be running nuclear plants in the country as per the atomic act.
It was for the first that the Rajya Sabha discussed the controversial bill vehemently being opposed by the BJP and the Left parties.
IANS
