The Parliamentary Standing Committee that is going into the Bill on civil nuclear liability is likely to meet on August 2 and 3 for the final round of evidence, indicated Union Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan here on Thursday.

“The Committee will be meeting, I am told, for the final round of evidence on August 2 and 3. After that, they will look at the draft report and go into clause-by-clause discussion. We are hoping that within a week or so, they will submit the report to Parliament”, he said.

‘Robust, transparent'

Speaking to reporters, he stressed that the Government was open to make the bill more robust and transparent.

The Department of Atomic Energy, he said will look at the suggestions made by the panel as soon as it submits its report to Parliament. “Whatever is acceptable, we will take it to the Cabinet to get the amendments approved and immediately afterwards, we will take the Bill for consideration.”

He declined to comment on the issue of raising the cap on the maximum compensation to be paid by a nuclear operator in case of an accident.

Cap to be raised

Presently, the Bill puts a cap of Rs.500 crore. There have been demands to raise this. The panel is reported to have agreed to raise the cap and also suggest changes to certain clauses that deal with liability on the part of the suppliers of nuclear equipment.