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Time of India

Democrats and Republicans introduce bill on Indo-US nuclear cooperation

Four US Senators (Two Republicans and two Democrats) have introduced a bill to create a whole-of-government strategy for nuclear cooperation and nuclear export with India as an "ally or partner nation" to further the bilateral civilian nuclear deal . "The Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other relevant federal departments and agencies, shall establish and maintain within the US-India Strategic Security Dialogue a joint consultative mechanism with the Government of the Republic of India that convenes on a recurring basis," as per the bill. Republicans Jim Risch and Mike Lee are sponsoring the bill along with Democrats Martin Heinrich and Chris Coons. The purpose should be "to assess the implementation of the Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of India concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy, signed at Washington on October 10, 2008; to discuss opportunities for the Republic of India to align domestic nuclear liability rules with international norms... to develop a strategy for the United States and the Republic of India to pursue bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements related to analysing and implementing those opportunities." Foreign nuclear power firms had evinced interest in setting up atomic power plants in India after it secured a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group to engage in global nuclear trade. The NSG waiver came after the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal of 2008. However, the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 proved to be an impediment for private sector participation. Foreign players termed certain provisions of the law unacceptable and contradicted the international Convention for Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC).