New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) — The Congress raised concerns on Tuesday regarding the government's commitment to amending two existing laws to permit private enterprises to establish and operate nuclear power plants. They questioned whether these bills would be introduced during the Winter session of Parliament.
The opposition also queried the government about the status of a bill to establish an independent regulatory authority separate from the atomic energy establishment.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, pointed out that grand promises were made during Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's presentation of the 2025-26 Budget, aimed at enhancing nuclear energy. This included amending the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, and the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to enable private entities to set up and run nuclear power facilities.
Surprisingly, however, neither of these two bills found their way to introduction in the just-concluded session of Parliament, he stated.
"Will the bills make an appearance in the Winter session, just three months from now? Furthermore, what about a bill for an independent regulatory body distinct from the atomic energy setup?" Ramesh asked.
He emphasized that such an initiative is crucial for encouraging private investment.
"It is worth recalling that with the full backing of the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, both Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj played significant roles in the establishment of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. The proposed amendments would reverse their accomplishments," Ramesh remarked.
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