A Parliamentary panel examining the controversial nuclear liability bill on Thursday invited comments on the draft legislation from experts, institutions and organisations within the next 15 days.
“In order to have wider consultations, the committee has decided to invite memoranda containing suggestions/views/ comments of experts/instit-utions/organisations interested in the subject matter of the Bill,” an advertisement issued by the Rajya Sabha secretariat said. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, environment on forests is examining the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 that was introduced in the Lok Sabha on May 7 amid stiff resistance from a united Opposition.
The committee has sought responses within a fortnight from Thursday and also asked them to indicate whether they are willing to appear before the panel for oral evidence. NGO Greenpeace termed the 15-day period for response as an “inadequate and feeble attempt towards including people’s voices” on the bill.
“The time and space should have been much wider than what has been offered by Standing Committee. Fifteen days of notice is not adequate enough for all the voices to be heard,” Karuna Raina, Climate and Energy campaigner for Greenpeace said.
She demanded that such consultations should be held in at least six key cities of the country.
At the sitting on Thursday, experts Bharat Karnad, Prabir Purkayastha, Sukla Sen, Praful Bidwai and former Atomic Energy Regulatory Board chairman A. Gopalakrishna made their submissions before the Committee.