The Atomic Energy Amendment Bill 2015 proposes to amend the 1962 Atomic Energy Act to change the definition of "government company" in the Act with a view to expand its scope by including such joint venture companies as may be formed between NPCIL and other PSUs, according to the statement of object and reasons.
Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, who holds the portfolio of atomic energy, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a lot of importance to atomic energy and whenever he has been on an overseas visit he has inked nuclear energy pacts with foreign countries.
"Now the stage has come that we plan how best to expand nuclear programme. We are among the frontline nations in nuclear programme. In days to come, nuclear energy is going to become the main source of energy," he said.
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He sought to allay the fears of MPs who had raised questions regarding the safety of the nuclear power plants and said precautions have been taken to have all the operations "hazard free".
In response to questions on Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act 2010 (CLND), the minister said there has been "absolutely no compromise" on the safety of the people and a National Nuclear Insurance Pool has been created to deal with any sort of exigency, which includes seeking property damage upto 10 years and perosnal damage up to Rs 20 years.
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Replying to a query by Chautala whether 380 scientists from Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) have died due to cancer following radiation, the minister said, "Not a single scientist has died due to radiation."
Some members also said the nuclear liability law was in a way hindering India's quest for nuclear energy and also asked government to allow the private sector enter the field.
He said the credit for India's nuclear power quest should go to the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and acclaimed nuclear physicist Homi Jehangir Bhabha.
To this Singh said, "Yes it was only because 1954 (when the Government under Nehru created the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) and was later rechristined as Homi Bhabha Research Centre was established) we can see 2015."
Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) said while the world is moving away from nuclear power, India is moving into it.
He said while in opposition, BJP had opposed the Indo-US nuclear deal but now in a "volte face" it is supporting it.
He said their much-chanted stance had little to do with their ideology but it is power "which changes things". Satpathy questioned the refusal of the government to part with safety data of nuclear reactors, claiming that such documents were available freely world-over but not in India.
The BJD member said by keeping the control of atomic power in the hands of its agencies, government has kept things under "shroud."
Jayadev Galla (TDP) said the government should allow private companies in nuclear projects as nuclear power was an important source of clean energy beyond solar and wind power.
Supporting the amendment bill, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy (TRS) said India should welcome foreign investment "but not foreign influence" in developing nuclear energy sector.
P R Sundaram (AIADMK) welcomed the amendments and demanded that nuclear power generated from plants in Tamil Nadu should be made available to the state.