Nuclear Liability Bill

In India, the recently introduced nuclear liability bill is creating a lot of hype for and against. Those who say OK are pointing to the huge capital inflow to India by MNCs if the bill is passed by setting up Nuclear Power Plants. Those against says that in case of any tragedy, these MNCs will not be liable to compensate on par with the world norms.
Two main events pointing to the industrial liability are the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 and more recent Oil Spill in BP’s drilling block “Deep Water Horizon” at Mexican sea.
Mexical Oil Spill:
The Mexican Oil Spill came into world focus when president Obama taken an active interest in the issue. The recent news in media shows Mr. Obama and USA asked for a payment of 20 billion dollar compensation from the British Petroleum. The whole issue attracted world attention when media reported president Obama’s “boot in throat” remark on the issue.
Bhopal – the tragedy
The news of Oil spill should be read in the context of the Bhopal tragedy and the most delayed verdict in the case with miniscule compensations and punishments. The then government took extra ordinary hurry to send back the then chairman of Union Carbide Mr. Warren Anderson. Now the blame is going on who is responsible for his safe exit – then PM Mr. Rajiv Gandhi to Home Minister Narsimha Rao to Madhyapradesh CM Arjun Singh.
The issue getting more complicated with then foreign secretary Rastogi’s and American diplomat Gorden Streeb’s foreclosures. Some alleges payment by Dow chemical (the present heir of Union Carbide) to political parties.
The real Tragedy of Bhopal (and India too):
The real issue is not who responsible for the safe passage of Mr. Warren Anderson. Main issue is how much compensation the company paid and how much the affected people received. And the main responsibility is with Indian government or even the Indian nation itself. Because;

• The justice denied to millions of affected people by the delay in court cases for about 25 years. A civilized nation’s important ethics is “justice denied is justice delayed”. Our judiciary recently observed in a case between two large industrial groups that the case is given priority because millions of share holder’s stake involved in it. May be the Bhopal victims are not holding any share or monetary stakes anywhere and their case is dragged so long.



• The Indian authorities failed to facilitate sufficient compensation to the victims. More than taking the criminal actions against company, the authorities should have concentrated in extracting maximum benefit from the company (like Obama doing). They could have blocked the take over of Union carbide by Dow Chemicals before settling the case.



• Present study shows that about 350 tons of toxic waste lays in the now closed factory.

Epilogue – Nuclear Liability:
In the event of Bhopal Tragedy government should have incorporated very stringent monitory liabilities to the Companies. If anybody thinks MNCs will hesitate to invest here because of the liabilities, the answer is simple. That these companies or those behind the bill foresee a Bhopal like tragedy in cooking.
PS:
Look into the Green Peace signature campine link below connecting to the petition sending to PM.
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/stop-another-bhopal