New Delhi : The Union Cabinet on Aug 20 cleared the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill after the Opposition BJP raised objections to it and demanded certain amendments to be made in the draft. According to a report, the government has agreed to the BJP's demands for amendments in the bill.

Earlier, the Cabinet met on Aug 20th morning to take a final call on the bill. After promising support, the BJP held up the Government at the last minute and forced another cabinet meet to be called on Aug 20. The BJP is demanding more liability on the suppliers, while the UPA is forced to agree to its new demands. The BJP had made it clear that if the Government did not drop its proposed amendment, which it considers as harmful, it would itself move an amendment.

In a note to the government, the main Opposition party 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 Committee also recommended that the operator "must secure his interest through appropriate provisions in the contract with the supplier". "The inclusion of 'and' in the amended draft Bill weakens clause 17(a). It appears the word was clumsily added in the Bill," Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said.

"Since the nuclear power plants are to be operated only by the government or government companies, it would be to our own advantage to delete the word 'and'," said the BJP note handed over to Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan by party leader Arun Jaitley.