The much-awaited rules for implementation of the Nuclear Liability law which could pave way for expansion of the atomic power sector by procuring equipment from foreign suppliers are likely to be tabled in the winter session of Parliament.
Giving this information on Thursday, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Srikumar Banerjee said the rules will have to be notified by the ministries concerned before being presented to Parliament.
Parliament had passed the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill in August last year, paving the way for nuclear commerce with the world after prolonged wrangling between the government and the opposition.
“We expect the rules to be tabled before Parliament in the next session,” Mr. Banerjee told reporters on the sidelines of India Nuclear Summit.
The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Law allows the operator of a nuclear plant to seek damages from the supplier in case of a nuclear incident due to supply of equipment with latent and patent defects or sub-standard services. However, the law has not gone down well with global suppliers.
On popular resistance to the proposed 9,900 MW Jaitapur nuclear project over security concerns in the aftermath of Fukushima incident, he said a re-evaluation of safety norms was being conducted by the nuclear authority of France and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
“Once the French authorities send their report, the AERB will analyse it before submitting it to the government,” he said.
Mr. Banerjee said the process of re-evaluation was likely to be completed by December. “Without having a complete safety analysis it is not possible for us to push the project for government consideration.”
Ruling out a Fukushima-like nuclear disaster in India, Mr. Banerjee said the reactors here had a passive cooling system, unlike those in the stricken Japanese plant, and added that additional safety features were being installed in them.
