N-liability bill not to please any particular country: Chavan

The civil nuclear liability bill was not aimed at pleasing any "particular" country but at developing a mechanism for "prompt" compensation for victims of a nuclear accident, Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said.

The civil nuclear liability bill was not aimed at pleasing any "particular" country but at developing a mechanism for "prompt" compensation for victims of a nuclear accident, Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said.

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"I am very happy to consider the nuclear bill today, which culminates the journey which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took in July 2005," Chavan said.

He said the government has tried to take on board views and concerns of all parties by bringing 18 amendments which have strengthened the bill that was introduced and referred to a parliamentary panel in May this year.

Chavan was speaking in the Lok Sabha before moving the legislation that has been a subject of fierce wrangling between the government and the opposition.

The bill is likely to be passed by the house after a short discussion.

"This is an unprecedented political consensus we have reached... There was a slight confrontation but we have bridged our differences," he said.

"This," he said, "is for the prompt compensation of victims in case of a nuclear accident."

"We have seen what happened in Bhopal. This is to ensure that victims don't have to run from pillar to post for compensation."