Won't dilute N-liability law: Govt

The government on Friday made it loud and clear that there is “no question of Indian laws being diluted or violated” even as it scrambles to close the deal with the US for setting up nuclear power reactors in the country.

India’s nuclear liability law has been the bone of contention between New Delhi and the American firms, which have been trying to win business in the Indian civil nuclear sector. Internationally, liability for compensation rests solely on the operator (in India’s case it is Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) but India’s nuclear liability law holds foreign suppliers liable too. India has been trying to find a way to deal with this controversial part without violating the law.

“Discussions are ongoing between NPCIL and WEC (Westinghouse Electric Corporation), and it is our hope that these discussions will be closed successfully. Fact of the matter is that all contracts with foreign companies are subject to Indian Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act and Rules,” India’s foreign secretary Sujatha Singh told reporters here.

She said, “Contracts have to be consistent with Indian law and there is no question of Indian law being violated or diluted.”