After the temporary bonhomie between the government, the BJP and the Left over the Women's Reservation Bill, it's going to be back to business as the opposition gears up for a battle in the Lok Sabha over the Nuclear Liability Bill today.
The Bill aims at fixing liability in case of a nuclear accident. But the main opposition parties, the Left and the BJP are dead opposed to the Bill.
India's most modern nuclear reactors are being built at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. Russia is making these and when complete they will be operated by Nuclear Power Corporation. But should there be an accident who would be held liable?
Sources in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) have told NDTV that in case of a nuclear accident the Indian operator NPCIL will be liable but the liability is capped at Rs 500 crores.
For compensation beyond that till Rs 2133 crores the government of India will be liable.
Over this, India can seek compensation from foreign countries as per the IAEA pact after India joins it.
Foreign suppliers of nuclear reactors will not have to pay.
The supplier has to give quality assurance but can be penalised for poor quality of equipment supplied.
The DAE says India desperately needs the Liability Bill in place and also needs to sign the liability convention simply because the Kudankulam nuclear power plants are very close to the international border.
But political opposition to the Bill has begun. The Left that was dead opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal is calling it a harmful piece of legislation meant to serve the interests of the United States and its nuclear industry and has demanded that it be scrapped.
Left statement: 'N-liability Bill is a harmful piece of legislation. The government is seeking to fulfill a hidden commitment to deliver a legislation which safeguards the interests of the US. The Bill needs to be scrapped.'
But the Congress is defending the Bill.
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