The government is set to make a highly troubling decision, one that I believe is among the most dangerous in the past 75 years. It’s unlikely that any government in the next 75 years would allow its citizens to face such risks under foreign pressure or international lobbying. The details may sound serious, but please stay with me. I’m going to share information that will reveal critical issues.
A major story in the Indian Express reports that the Modi government is making a significant decision about nuclear power plants in India. If an accident occurs at these plants, the companies running them will face minimal compensation obligations for deaths or damage. Let’s examine this and understand why India doesn’t need these plants, why they’re unaffordable, and how they could cause widespread harm. We’ll also explore how the world is moving away from nuclear power, yet our government is putting lives at risk for international lobbies.
In 2010, the Manmohan Singh government introduced the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act. This law stated that if a foreign company builds a nuclear power plant in India and an accident happens, they must pay compensation. The limit was set at around ₹1500 crore for the operator, with the government adding ₹1100 crore, totalling ₹2600 crore. This is a small amount compared to the wealth of major companies. For comparison, a road accident today might result in lakhs in compensation, and if any govt officer dies on duty, some states offer ₹1 crore. Yet, for a nuclear disaster, the cap is only ₹2600 crore for all the affected people.
But the Modi government is now amending this binding law too. They’ve changed Rule 17 (b) and added Rule 24 to the CNLD Rules 2010, stating that foreign companies supplying equipment won’t be liable if their faulty equipment causes an accident. They’ve also created a ₹1500 crore insurance pool, partly funded by the government and private entities, so companies face little financial burden. This means taxpayers will cover the costs of any accident, not the foreign companies.
Consider past nuclear disasters. Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011 displaced 160,000 people and cost over ₹16 lakh crore in compensation. In Ukraine’s Chernobyl disaster, over 4,000 people died from radiation, with many more affected. In India, with its dense population, a similar accident could displace 10–20 lakh people. Yet, the government has allocated just ₹2600 crore for compensation, which is woefully inadequate.
Nuclear accidents don’t just cause immediate harm. They contaminate land, water, and air for generations. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, responsible for managing such crises, lacks the resources or expertise to handle a disaster. Nuclear waste remains radioactive for 10,000 years, and India has no safe disposal plan. Dumping it in the sea or underground is hazardous, yet no solution exists.
India doesn’t require these plants. They’re costly and unsafe. Nuclear power costs ₹9–12 per unit, compared to ₹4–6 for coal-based power and ₹2.5–3.5 for solar. Solar and wind energy are cheaper, cleaner, and safer. With over 300 days of sunshine annually, India is ideal for solar power. Building a nuclear plant takes 15 years, while coal or gas plants can be ready in 1–2 years. Why invest in something so expensive and risky when better options exist?
Globally, countries are abandoning nuclear power. After Fukushima, Japan began phasing out nuclear plants. Germany became nuclear-free by 2023. Yet, India is constructing plants in earthquake-prone areas like Jaitapur and Konkan, where a disaster like Japan’s tsunami could be catastrophic.
This decision appears to favour foreign companies like Westinghouse (USA), EDF (France), and Rosatom (Russia). India risks becoming a dumping ground for their outdated, hazardous technology. The government has relaxed rules to shield these companies, not protect Indian citizens. Environmental regulations have also been weakened—a 2020 policy allows companies to build plants first and seek environmental clearance later, a reckless practice.
India already operates 24 safer nuclear plants through the government’s Atomic Power Corporation. Why permit private or foreign companies to build riskier plants? The answer seems to lie in pressure from powerful lobbies and financial influences. Reports suggest foreign contributions to funds like PM CARES may play a role.
This decision was made without public consultation or parliamentary debate. The government can sign foreign deals without oversight. Media coverage of these issues is scarce, and protests in places like Jaitapur, Kudankulam, and Gorakhpur are ignored or suppressed. Farmers, villagers, and activists opposing these plants are silenced, and policies like post-facto clearances undermine environmental impact assessments.
The government’s approach raises serious concerns about its priorities. It’s prioritising foreign companies over Indian lives. The only way to address this is through public awareness. Share this information, discuss it with others, and demand accountability. If you need data or details, I can provide them—just ask. India is a democracy, and the government’s role is to safeguard its people, not cater to foreign interests.
This policy reflects a troubling disregard for Indian citizens. We must act to challenge it.
