EARTH NEWS SERVICE|
New Delhi, Dec 14 |15: After an elaborate discussion lasting about three hours, during which leaders from different political parties participated, Lok Sabha today passed the landmark “Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015” moved by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh. The bill was passed with a voice vote amidst thumping of desks from both treasury as well as opposition benches. It will now be referred to Rajya Sabha for ratification. The Bill seeks to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, thus paving the way for Atomic Energy Units, including Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to enter into joint-ventures with other Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and government sector companies. Expressing satisfaction over the passage of the Bill, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the manner in which members of all political parties across the party-lines have come to support the amendments is a true homage to the legacy of Homi Bhabha, the founding father of India’s nuclear programme and also a vindication of Homi Bhabha’s vision for use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The amendments passed today will enable the nuclear expansion programme to move at a fast track and place India as a front-line nation in the world arena, he added. Dr Jitendra Singh said, during the last 18 months of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been a series of agreements and MOUs to procure Uranium and other collaboration from different countries. But, when Indian PSUs like National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) came forward to support installation of our new nuclear projects, he said, it was realised that the existing Atomic Energy Act of 1962 did not allow for this. With the passage of today’s Bill, which will later be ratified by Rajya Sabha before it becomes a legislation, there will be a win-win situation for both the partners and even those of the PSUs or government companies, which are not directly dealing with nuclear power generation, will be able to become equity beneficiaries while NPCIL will be responsible for providing all the technical support and infrastructure, he added.
