NDA members strongly support nuclear bill; Opposition seeks examination by JPC
NEW DELHI: Opposition MPs Wednesday strongly pitched for sending the nuclear energy bill moved by the government to a parliamentary panel for wider consultations while members from the ruling coalition wholeheartedly supported the legislation saying it will prove helpful in making the country energy sufficient. Participating in the debate on the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill , which seeks to open the tightly-controlled civil nuclear sector for private participation, BJP member Shashank Mani said every Indian will be benefitted from the bill, which has come due to the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the bill will facilitate government and private sectors investment in nuclear energy sector, generating employment while protecting the environment. Mani said the legislation will ensure that nuclear energy will be used in all sectors specially the emerging industries. He said the US, which is the world's largest energy consumer, gets 30 per cent energy from nuclear sector and 80 per cent of this nuclear energy is produced by the private sector. Appreciating the allocation of Rs 20,000 crore in the last budget for Small Moduler Reactors (SMR), the BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh said the bill will create modern infrastructure for nuclear energy sector and all such plants will be constructed after complying international standards. He said in the bill, definition of nuclear energy and power has been defined, it addresses long standing concerns of public health and maintaining the liabilities as per international standards. Samajwadi Party member Aditya Yadav, while participating the debate, strongly opposed it saying the bill will offer red carpet welcome to the foreign companies ignoring the country's interest. This is an attempt to bring US and French companies. If you are opening up the nuclear energy sector to foreign companies, where is your Make In India programme, he asked. Yadav claimed that through this bill, the Modi government is trying to please the Trump administration and lower the tariff imposed by the United States on India. Urging the government to send the bill to a Select Committee, TMC member Saugata Roy said nuclear energy is a isky proposition and the government has put maximum liability in case of an accident at just USD 300 million. The liability should be USD 500 million, he said, adding, if accident takes place, the whole purpose will be defeated. Roy said India does not have enough raw materials for producing nuclear energy and with this bill, the government is going to allow private companies to get foreign investment and raw materials. Let's send the bill to a select committee for wider consultations, he said. DMK member Arun Nehru termed the name of the bill, SHANTI, as oxymoron as the nuclear energy has nothing to do with 'Shanti' (peace). Demanding that the bill be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), he said cost of power go up by 25 per cent wherever private companies are involved. Referring to nuclear accidents, which took place in the past in Japan and Russia, Nehru said the government must have to take extreme precautions while setting up nuclear power stations. He said bill opens up litigation under international jurisdiction and individual claims will have no meaning as individual rights have been removed by the bill. NDA constituent JD-U member Alok Kumar Suman said that the bill will facilitate in providing 24 hour power to the country and India can help other countries too in proper use of nuclear power. He said the production of nuclear energy in the country will go up by 10 times. Suman, while supporting the bill, suggested that attention should be given to radio active waste management and liability limit should go upto USD 400 or USD 500 from USD 300 million. While wholeheartedly supporting bill, another NDA constituent TDP member Krishna Prasad Tenneti said many countries get their power, over 50 per cent, from nuclear sector while India's nuclear sector contribute just 3 per cent power. This bill will facilitate greater and long term investment, innovation while maintaining sovereignty, he said. Seeking examination of the bill by a JPC, NCP member Supriya Sule said no supplier should have immunity and asked how the government can put a cap on liability. Praising the long safety records of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, a PSU, Sule asked what is the guarantee that a private player will be as much careful as NPCIL.
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