December 17, 2025
Pratima Mondal’s speech on The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill (SHANTI Bill), 2025
Thank you, Sir, on behalf of All
India Trinamool Congress, I rise to speak on the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025, that means SHANTI Bill, 2025. Before delving into today’s topic, I would like to share
something. Sir, Enrico Fermi is widely credited with inventing nuclear power for practical use, creating the world’s first artificial nuclear reactor in 1942. Sir, nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of
atoms made up of protons and neutrons. This is done by splitting atoms namely fission, which is used in power plants. The primary atoms used in nuclear fission are heavy unstable elements like uranium, plutonium and thorium as a potential fuel which are bombarded by neutrons to split their nuclei, releasing massive energy in a chain reaction
for power or weapons. Sir, these elements are all radioactive elements, so everyone can imagine how sensitive this area is. India currently has 22 operational power reactors across several States. Among them, the five major plants are Tarapur in Maharashtra, Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, Kakrapur in Gujarat and Kaiga in Karnataka. Sir, Kudankulam is the largest nuclear power plant in India with a total capacity of 6000 MW from six reactors. Sir, this House’s today debating a Bill will decide who controls India’s nuclear future, who bears the risk and who pays when things go wrong. Sir, the SHANTI Bill does not emerge from a regulatory vacuum. India has governed nuclear energy for over six decades. Through the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, this Bill is, therefore, not a foundational statute. It is a restructuring statute. My question to the hon. Minister is, what problem is this restructuring actually solving? Sir, Section 3 of the Bill allows not only Government companies but also private companies, joint venture and even other persons notified by the Centre to build, own and operate nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities. Sir, privatisation could lead to a threat to our national security and safety. How can the Ministry ensure this? Sir, Modi Government is handing over our pride, the 70 years of publicly funded research built by Pandit Nehruji, Dr. Homi Bhabha and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. This is not real competition. It is a
crony control. The Modi Government is opening the doors for a handful of private players to enter the highly sensitive sector. The Bill does not create any clear, independent, and transparent process for selecting private licensee nor any strong Parliamentary or public scrutiny of such decisions. What we see here is selective privatization profits go to private companies, but control and riskmanagement stay with the Government. Here, I would like to take you through a flashback to our history of British Raj in India where power without responsibility was introduced after the Battle of Buxar. This system gave the British East India Company control over revenue collection, that is Diwani and military power. There was responsibility without power. The system was designed so that the British had power without responsibility. While the Nawab had responsibility, but had no real authority. So, he became … Nawab. Ultimately, the British East India Company ruled over our country and looted our wealth. Similarly, this Government is now going to execute the same stature of … Ministry’ as we are seeing in the Civil Aviation Ministry. … In case of serious accident affecting thousands of people, victims will struggle to get fair compensation because the operator’s liability is capped. The rest of the burden falls on the State and ultimately on common citizens through taxes. The most advanced nuclear countries like Canada, the United States or France have independent regulators with statutory protections. These regulators can challenge Government decisions. They have stable funding and
they answer directly to the Parliament or the Congress. This Bill does not meet those standards. It keeps AERB subordinate to the Department of Atomic Energy, which is a conflict of interest that no advanced country accepts. Sir, I was given 10 minutes. No, Sir. I have 10 to 12 minutes at my disposal.… and my time is lapsing. It is a very tough topic. So, Sections 32 to 37 allow the Government to frame national policies, acquire plants and minerals, requisition substances, narrate private contracts, and even fix nuclear electricity tariffs notwithstanding the Electricity Act, 2003. Federalism, sectoral regulators and market mechanisms are brushed aside with a single notwithstanding clause. The States where Uranium mining, nuclear plants and radioactive facilities are located will bear the environmental and social burdens, yet this Bill gives no meaningful role in licensing decisions, safety oversight, emergency planning or compensation. The States should have a say in deciding whether a nuclear facility is to be built on their soil. They should receive compensation if their land is acquired or if there is contamination. The Bill places a duty on operator to ensure occupational safety and health, but it does not strengthen the position of the workers to demand safe conditions or to report violations without fear or retaliation. The workers in nuclear facilities face unique hazards like radiation exposure, chemical burns, psychological stress, and they deserve strong protection. In the Bill, there is no mention about high costs for containment and the disposal of hazardous radioactive waste. The House is being asked to sign a blank cheque to trust a Government that has centralized power, weakened institutions and repeatedly ignored expert advice with a nuclear law that expands its direction while limiting its liability. The Bill shifts risk onto ordinary citizens, shields private and foreign suppliers. Sir, everybody is talking that we should take lessons from the grave incidents like the explosion in Chernobyl, Ukraine and the Fukushima Daiichi, Japan, but we must not forget about the incidents which happened in Bhopal. … Sir, during the introduction of three Bills including the SHANTI Bill, when some Members from the Opposition were raising their voice, hon. Parliamentary Affairs Minister suddenly stood up and said, “We will pass all the Bills.” …Sir, this kind of…
