KATHMANDU, July 1: Lawmakers from the ruling and main opposition parties have strongly objected to the proposed bill on Safe and Peaceful use of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials that will pave the way for establishing nuclear plants in Nepal if it is endorsed from the Parliament. 

Speaking at a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Health, Bhim Rawal, a leader of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, objected to the proposed nuclear bill arguing that it is against the national interests. "The government should have been careful while drafting such a controversial bill," he said.

Rawal took a strong exception to the provision of the proposed bill that allows the private sector to set up a nuclear plant in the country. "However, the government should not delay introducing a bill on the use of radioactive materials," he said.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Dibyamani Raj Bhandari said the bill will be detrimental to the country's national interests if it is endorsed from the Parliament as it is. "The bill, if endorsed from the Parliament, will open the door to set up nuclear plants in Nepal. Hence. it is against the country's national interests," Bhandari said.

He is of the view that it will be unwise to set up the nuclear plant in Nepal at a time when even the European countries are gradually phasing out the nuclear plants.

On the occasion, former health minister Dr. Bharat Pradhan said that there is no need to set up nuclear plant in Nepal. "Nepal will have to face grave consequences if the nuclear plants are established," he said.

 
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