Clarity needed over nuclear liabilities law: Dr Kakodkar

* Eminent nuclear scientist and former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Anil Kakodkar stresses on identifying new sites for nuclear power projects

By Kartik Lokhande
Now that Russia has agreed upon India’s nuclear liability law, the issue of nuclear liabilities has occupied centre-stage once again. Against this backdrop, eminent nuclear scientist Padma Vibhushan Dr Anil Kakodkar felt that the Government needed to have better clarity on various clauses of nuclear liability law.
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission said that the pacts with nations like United States, France should go to finality now that Russia had given its nod. At the same time, the Central Government should take decisions to bring better clarity in nuclear liability law. Elaborating on these points, Dr Kakodkar said, “Concerns over civil nuclear liability regime affecting the domestic as well as foreign companies, exact nature of liabilities, measures for management of these liabilities, insurance burden etc should be addressed.”

It may be mentioned here that the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, provides for placing huge legal liability on equipment suppliers and reactor operators in case of a nuclear incident. In 2011, new rules capped the liability to Rs 1,500 crore. This is hurting not only global nuclear vendors but also the domestic companies, and changes have been sought in the law. Further, there are issues with nuclear insurance as there is no single Government insurance entity in India to take care of insurance of nuclear power plants running into thousands of crores of rupees. In a latest development, the Government is working on providing insurance cover to existing and new nuclear power plants.
Commenting on the issue of financial aspects of these issues, Dr Kakodkar said that the residual burden arising out of these liability factors affected balance sheets of companies. He favoured making necessary amendments to the law. Besides, he said, efforts were needed to bring nuclear power tariff to a level comparable with other options. He also stressed on identifying new sites for nuclear power plants, to enable other countries also to participate.
Asked about availability of atomic minerals in the country, the former Secretary (Department of Atomic Energy) to Government of India said that India’s uranium potential had doubled. Still, he added, it needs to be raised further. “We need to increase our assets like Uranium mines, fuel cycle facilities etc in other countries also. Concerted efforts are needed in this direction as China is exploring it at various places,” he suggested.
To a query on integrated energy approach, the celebrated nuclear scientist said that there should be an umbrella organisation for new technology and research in the field of new energy. A policy covering various related aspects will be a great step, he added. In France, he told reporters, the Atomic Energy Commission was changed to Advanced Energy Commission and it helped a lot there. For fuel cell research in India, he observed, a comprehensive approach was needed.

‘Bhabha’s bungalow
must be conserved’
Dr Anil Kakodkar added his voice to the growing chorus for conservation of country’s pioneering nuclear scientist late Homi Bhabha’s bungalow ‘Mehrangir’ in Malabar Hill in Mumbai. Dr Kakodkar, who is former Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), said that the said bungalow had seen various stages of India’s atomic energy evolution as Homi Bhabha had lived in the said bungalow. “It must be conserved as heritage. How to do it is up to the Government,” he said. After it was sold in an auction to a businessman for Rs 372 crore recently, BARC scientists have been demanding the Government to step in and take over the bungalow to convert it into museum in public interest. Central Government also told Bombay High Court recently that it was considering the take-over of the bungalow.