Enactment of the law is being pushed mainly to pave the way for supervising and regularizing nuclear technology/energy-based activities, including licensing and inspections.[break]
Officials at the MoST said it would help the country properly manage radioactive substances and also strengthen relations with international agencies like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA ) and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).
MoST drafted a Nuclear Bill following suggestions from IAEA and has sent it to the ministries concerned for their suggestions.
Secretary at MoST Dr Ram Hari Aryal said, “At present there is no mechanism to find out in what amounts radioactive material is coming into the country and going out from here.” He said the law will make it mandatory to monitor such activities closely.
He said that they have already sent the draft bill to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Law and are awaiting feedback before taking it to the cabinet. “We are hopeful it will come into effect in a couple of months,” he added.
IAEA had urged the government more than two years ago to formulate the law.
Officials at MoST said that endorsement of the bill will legitimize the country taking possible assistance for various projects, mainly in the health, agriculture and energy sectors.
“With the help of this technology we can preserve seeds longer and increase their productivity and nutrition level,” Joint-spokesperson at MoST Ram Dutta Pandey told Republica. He added that it would boost science and technology in the country which is far behind other countries. “Our activities based on nuclear technology are almost nil, but after enactment of the law they will grow,” he added.
Previously in 2008, Nepal had prepared and adopted a Nuclear Policy which opened the application of nuclear technology in the development process of the country.
However, some activities mainly related to health and agriculture were facing hurdles in the absence of such law.
“At present we can"t directly procure radioactive substances from IAEA for lack of nuclear law,” he said, adding, the law would open up new avenues for development based on nuclear technology.
After a visit here in 2008, IAEA officials had submitted a report to MoST suggesting implementation of the law at the earliest. As of now, there are no regulations to oversee nuclear-related activities.
Panta further added that CTBTO had already established a station to forecast possible natural calamities. “Enactment of the law is going to facilitate CTBTO"s operations,” he added.
IAEA has 151 members and Nepal acquired membership in 2008. Under a new agreement IAEA is providing assistance in 12 different projects including in sectors like health, agriculture, energy and environment, which are likely to benefit from the law.
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