Govt may bring new law to ensure N-power safety

India is putting in place an elaborate plan for legal and institutional reform to ensure its civilian nuclear programme meets all international safety standards. The objective is to make Indian nuclear reactors more resistant to disasters, said sources accompanying the Prime Minister.

A new law is on the cards that would streamline the safety requirements for all reactors in keeping with the best global safety standards. The bill will be subjected to detailed scrutiny by experts and finally by a standing committee of Parliament, so that nobody can complain of any negligence in the execution, operation and maintenance of nuclear power projects in the country.

Considerable doubts had arisen over the safety aspects of nuclear power plants after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan affected the reactors in northern Fukushima, creating a scare about the long-term viability and safety of nuclear plants. Recent radioactive leaks through industrial waste have also raised doubts about safety.

The proposed bill will also pave the way for regulatory revamp by giving necessary autonomy and outlining regulatory jurisdiction for the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. At present, it is neither fully autonomous and nor does it have a clearly earmarked regulatory jurisdiction.

Reports of three of the four task forces the government had set up to suggest measures to expand the safety system for nuclear power units are now with the government. A change in the processes followed for nuclear reactors will now be planned, with special emphasis on site selection, design of reactors, operation and maintenance of such power plants.

The sources also indicated the Japan events would have no impact on the their investments in India. Japan was keen on proving to the world that it would be right back on its feet after the natural disasters. This was the impression the Indian foreign secretary got when she met Japanese government officials recently. Instead of a slowdown, there would an increased flow of Japanese investments in India, the sources said. For instance, the Japanese are keen on expediting their investments in the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor project.

The sources also said the vexed question of oil payments to Iran had been resolved, although they declined the reveal details. India’s payment to Iran for its oil imports had run into problems and Germany had offered a temporary reprieve. Now, the sources said, a permanent solution had been found.