US feels India's nuclear liability law not consistent with CSC

From Lalit K Jha
Washington (PTI) - Voicing "serious concern" over
India's nuclear liability law, the US Friday said New Delhi
could seek IAEA's help in evaluating its legislation's
compliance with the Convention on Supplemental Compensation
(CSC).
The nuclear liability regime, which has become a
sticking point in full implementation of the Indo-US civil
nuclear deal, had figured among one of the major topics of
discussions between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, when the two leaders
met in New York this week in New York, a senior Obama
administration official had said.
"The Secretary urged India to ensure that its nuclear
liability regime conforms with the Convention on Supplementary
Compensation for Nuclear Damage," he said on the talks.
The State Department said in a statement that "there
continues to be serious concerns that India's 2010 nuclear
liability law is not consistent with the CSC."
"The IAEA is an appropriate venue for clarification on
issues related to the Convention on Supplementary Compensation
on Nuclear Damage, which deals with international nuclear
liability. The Agency can be helpful in assisting countries in
evaluating their compliance with the CSC," it said.
Such a statement from State Department comes after top
US officials this week urged India to take steps to ensure
that its nuclear liability bill is in tune with international
standards.
"For international and Indian firms to participate in
India's civil nuclear sector, India needs a nuclear liability
regime consistent with international standards," Deputy
Secretary of State, William J Burns had said at a seminar on
Indo-US ties organised jointly by the Brookings Institute and
the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FICCI).
"To this end, we welcome India's commitment to ratify
the Convention on Supplemental Compensation later this year,
and we encourage India to engage with the International Atomic
Energy Agency to ensure that India's liability regime fully
conforms with the international requirements under the
Convention," he said in his remarks.
The issue was first raised by Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton in New York when she met External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna on Monday; and then followed by Deputy Secretary of
State William J Burns and Assistant Secretary of State for
South and Central Asia Robert Blake.
India's Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Law allows
the operator of a nuclear plant to seek damages from the
supplier in case of a nuclear incident due to supply of
equipment with latent and patent defects or sub-standard
services.
However, the law has not gone down well with global
suppliers.