Environmentalists and other groups apposing the use of Nuclear energy have expressed their anger over the proposed Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill (2009).

The bill will allow exemption for foreign companies from criminal liability if an nuclear accident takes place and proposes a restriction of upto Rs 500 crores. They are alleging that it violated the constitution and also undermines the public safety.

Uday Kumar, India Coordinator of National Alliance of Anti- Nuclear Movement expressed that if a nuclear accident happends in the country then only the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) will be asked to pay for the damages and not any other foreign company.

The groups have pointed out a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the United States Environment Protection Agency in January 2002. It was further renewed in
2007.

The EPA has reportedly issued a Request for Proposal for any NGO to bid for a grant amounting to $500,000. The NGO which will receive this grant will be entitled to work with the Ministry of Environment and Forests to bring changes into the constitution and Indian regulations.

Leo Saldhana of Environment Support Group alleged that the action to change Indian regulations being initiated by a foreign entity is undermining the sovereignty of the Indian union.

He further said that the changes in the regulations would do away with the criminal liability for environmental damage, with civil liability and is likely to benefit only large international corporations.

The changes would influence the current regulations relating to the legal principles of polluter pays, precautionary principles and also the principle of absolute liability. The limit of Rs 500 crores would do away with the unlimited security guaranteed by the highest court in the country.