The US said on Wednesday that the Indian Parliament needed to act upon the "critical" nuclear liability bill to take forward the Indo-American nuclear deal, which had reached "almost the finishing line".
US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said there were "a couple of small issues we have to resolve" but replied in the negative, when asked if the deal had hit a roadblock. "Liability bill first and foremost.That's critical... That's something (Indian) Parliament needs to act upon," he said, expressing hope this "very helpful, very important legislation for America and for India" would be passed in the next session.
"We are very hopeful, I am an optimist that this (bill) will get through in the next session of Parliament," he said.
Roemer said both countries were "very close" to the completion of reprocessing agreement.
"We are very close. I think we will resolve that in the next couple of weeks. We are getting there. We are very close". He said the two nations had made "great strides... almost to the finish line (on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal)".
Roemer said the deal was positive for the US because in the economy that it faces, the agreement helps create jobs in America, to export nuclear units to India.
Similarly, it was positive for India because it would enable Indians, particularly rural communities, to access electricity at affordable costs. The nuclear liability bill, cleared by the Cabinet ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the US last year, would give a fillip to nuclear commerce.
The bill provides for a cap of Rs 2,500 crore by way of damages in case of a nuclear accident.
Under the Bill, the responsibility for paying this compensation will rest on the operator, likely to be the Nuclear Power Corporation. Once passed, India will join the international convention on liability in the civil nuclear arena.
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