Some members wanted a clear clarification from the government on whether the bill was India-specific or it was merely being enacted to fulfill requirements of accession to international treaties.
A parliamentary panel examining the controversial nuclear liability bill hopes to finalise its report tomorrow amid strong indications of difference of opinion with BJP members.
The meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on science and technology today was a stormy affair with members seeking a string of clarifications from Srikumar Banerjee, secretary, department of atomic energy on the civil liability for nuclear damage 2010.
Things took an ugly turn when some members understood to have questioned the sincerity on the part of the government in bringing in the legislation that provides for payment of compensation to victims in case of a nuclear accident.
Some members wanted a clear clarification from the government on whether the bill was India-specific or it was merely being enacted to fulfil requirements of accession to international treaties.
There were also indications that some members were planning to submit dissent notes as the committee was set to adopt its report on the bill at its final meeting tomorrow.
The committee has been granted 15-day extension twice and its term for finalising a report on the draft legislation comes to an end tomorrow.
"The bill is important for development of the nuclear sector in the country," T Subbirami Reddy, chairman of the committee told PTI when his remarks were sought on the meeting today.
Another sticking point at the meeting was certain remarks attributed to leader of the opposition Sushma Swaraj in media relating to the proceedings of the Committee.
Congress member Pradeep Tamta took strong objection to the remarks and wanted an inquiry into the "leakage" of the committee's proceedings.
"There was hue and cry at the meeting over remarks attributed to Swaraj that appeared in media," another member of the committee said.
The committee is expected to adopt the re-drafted bill tomorrow and submit its report to Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari on August 12 or 13.
A few other members acknowledged that heated arguments took place at today's sitting of the committee when Banerjee and other officials of the department of atomic energy had a lot of answering to do.
Sources said the committee is expected to recommend that the cap for compensation in the case of a nuclear accident should be enhanced to Rs1,000 crore from Rs500 crore, which was proposed in the bill.
The committee is also expected to recommend that there should be adequate provision for the liability of the supplier of material to the atomic plants in India, they said.
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