Parliamentary panel wants greater autonomy to nuclear safety regulator

NEW DELHI: A Parliamentary panel today pitched for greater autonomy to the proposed statutory regulator for the nuclear sector, a step that would allow it to earn credibility and trust of the people.

It found that certain clauses of the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) Bill regarding removal of chairperson and members of the Authority and the government's power to supersede the regulator may impinge on the functional autonomy.

"The Department (of Atomic Energy) should explore possibilities of making the Regulatory Authority more independent and autonomous not only to carry out its functions effectively but also to enjoy credibility among the public and the trust of the people," said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology in its report on the Bill.

Committee Chairman T Subbirami Reddy and member Ranjan Prasad Yadav today met Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari and handed over the report on the Bill.

CPI(M) members Saman Pathak and Anup Kumar Saha gave dissent notes contending that the Bill failed to provide substantive autonomy to the NSRA. They said the Bill seeks to make the Authority subservient to the Central government.

"Such a regulatory structure will be ineffective and not carry credibility with the people," Pathak and Sahu said.