BJP opposed to N-bill amendment
The main Opposition BJP on Thursday opposed an amendment in the final report of the nuclear liability bill submitted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The party is of the view that this amendment “dilutes” provisions relating to “suppliers” obligations in case of an accident.
The BJP also made it clear that if the government does not drop its proposed amendment, it would itself move an amendment in this regard. The main Opposition, through a note to the government expressed objection to the addition of the word “and” in the proposed legislation after Clause 17(a) dealing with the right of recourse of an operator of a nuclear plant and a subsequent sub-clause that deals with the suppliers obligations in case of an accident.
Clause 17 says that “The operator of a nuclear installation shall have a right of recourse where — (a) such right is expressly provided for in a contract in writing”. The BJP contended that the “efficacy and utility of Clause 17 (b) on the supplier is completely destroyed by the supplier not agreeing to an agreement in writing. Thus, what Clause 17(b) gives as a protection to the operator, the word ‘and’ snatches it away.” The report recommends that Clause 17(a) may end with the word “and”. It proposed modification of Clause 17(b) to say “the nuclear incident has resulted as a consequence of latent or patent defect, supply of sub-standard material, defective equipment or services or from the gross negligence on the part of the supplier of the material, equipment or services.”
The committee also recommended that the operator “must secure his interest through appropriate provisions in the contract with the supplier”.
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