Govt looks at N-bill after Bhopal court verdict

New Delhi: The government is calling for a meeting on the civil nuclear liability Bill, which fixes the maximum amount of liability in case of a nuclear accident at Rs 500 crore, to be paid by the operator of the nuclear plant.

The Bill has come under scrutiny after a court in Bhopal on Monday held eight accused guilty of criminal negligence in the Union Carbide plant gas leak case but released them on bail after imprisoning them for two years.

CNN-IBN learns that Law Minister Veerappa Moily is studying the Bill after the Bhopal court’s verdict. Moily on Monday had criticised the court verdict. "This is one such case where justice is delayed and practically denied. I would like to say justice is buried," he said.

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday called on the government to reconsider the Bill in view of the court verdict. "The nuclear liability bill is under discussion. The government should learn proper lessons from Bhopal gas tragedy," said Prasad.

"The bill, as envisaged, puts any criminal liability on the nuclear operator. Any nuclear accident causes long-term damage," he said.

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill is at present is with the parliamentary committee headed by Subirami Reddy after being introduced in parliament last month, in the budget session. 

The Opposition, especially the Left, claims the Bill is a sellout to America