Indian gov't notifies implementation rules for civil nuke liability law

The Indian government has notified the implementation rules for the civil nuclear liability law, which provides the nuclear plant operator the right to recourse for the period for which the supplier of equipment has taken liability for patent or latent defects or sub-standard services under a contract, according to local media reports Thursday. Under the rules relating to Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, an operator's claim will in no case exceed the actual amount of compensation paid by him up to the date of filing such claim. The United States has made it clear that India's civil nuclear liability law will have to be harmonized with international conventions and that the current regime imposed a heavy burden on the operators of nuclear plants in India. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week said that the government will place rules and procedures relating to the civil nuclear liability regime in the forthcoming winter session of parliament that begins Nov. 22. Singh is due to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama on the margins of the 6th East Asia Summit in Bali Friday. Local media said they are expected to give a push to the their nuclear deal between the two countries.