LS passes Bill to ease setting up of nuclear power projects

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed, by voice vote, a Bill to amend the Atomic Energy Act to “overcome difficulties encountered in the setting up of new nuclear projects and enhancement of nuclear power generation.”

The Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which will enable the Nuclear Power Corp to enter into joint ventures with other public sector undertakings (PSUs) to fast-track nuclear power projects in the country, was introduced in the House on December 7 by Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh.

Replying to a debate on the Bill, he said: “India’s nuclear programme is on ascension.”

He said wherever Prime Minister Narendra Modi went during the past 18 months of his government, he signed “some agreement” or got into “some understanding” related to nuclear power with that country.

“Prime minister, wherever he visits, gets something on nuclear energy,” he said.

He said in the years to come, India would start using nuclear energy in generating power. Singh also cleared all doubts and concerns of the members about safety and security of the country's nuclear power plants. “All our nuclear plants are safe as they have been designed after taking every minute thing into consideration,” he said.