'Govt. has to explain rush to dilute Nuke Liability Bill': BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday questioned the government's haste to dilute the Nuclear Liability Bill (NLB), and said the Congress Party will have to give an explanation.

It added that such issues cannot be rushed just because the Prime Minister is expected to meet President Barack Obama in New York and in Washington.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said that government's haste, both on the question of liability and also on the question of viability, might not be the best way to deal with this issue.

"On viability, the government cannot bypass the Atomic Energy Agency, who are technically the 'last word' in matters related to nuclear energy. If the government is going forward without consulting the Atomic Energy Agency, it may not be the best way to deal with issues related to the viability of a project," she said.

She further said that Section 17 B of the NLB clearly states everything with regard to the liability of operators.

"We all remember Bhopal where the liability of the operator was not brought into account at all because Anderson escaped. Keeping that experience in mind, after a lot of discussion, 17 B was brought into the law. Now, while framing the rules for implementing that law, maybe there was some dilution," she added.

Sitharaman asked the government whether it is allowing the operators to go scot-free in an attempt to dilute the Nuclear Liability Bill (NLB).

"This is something that only Government of India can answer. On the part of liability, Section 17B has to be honoured, which is part of the law. Therefore, the government has to explain and they cannot be in a hurry just because the PM will be meeting with the US President," she said.

According to reports, a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) note suggests that prior to his visit to the United States to attend this year's U.N. General Assembly session and to meet President Barack Obama on its sidelines, appears to be keen to have a diluted version of the NLB signed.

The diluted NLB reportedly overlooks several key factors, including security concerns. According to a television channel, the CCS note details plans to bypass the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), a move that has raised questions.

In 2010, Parliament passed the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, which creates a liability cap for nuclear plant operators for economic damage in the event of an accident.

It also leaves nuclear suppliers free of most liability.

Critics and activists say that nuclear operators and suppliers should be jointly and absolutely liable for civil damages in the event of an accident, and that their financial liability must be unlimited.