The Standing Committee on Civil Nuclear Liability has recommended a three-fold increase in the operators liability ceiling from 500 crore rupees to 1500 crore rupees in case of a nuclear incident or accident. The government's liability, which was a 300 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR), approximately 2100 crore rupees can now be revised upwards. The report, which was tabled in both the Houses of Parliament today, also suggested the setting up of a Nuclear Liability Fund on the lines of a similar fund in the United States. It also has a new clause making it clear that the bill on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage will apply to nuclear plants, owned and operated by the government. The compensation claim period is sought to be increased from ten to twenty years. The Committee also recommended that the victims of the accident shall have the right to appeal to the High Court and Supreme Court if they are not satisfied with the award given by the Claims Commissioner or Nuclear Damage Claims Commission.Mr. Saman Pathak of the CPI(M), a member of the Standing Committee, has given a note of dissent against the bill alleging that the provisions of the bill unduly favour the foreign suppliers of nuclear equipments. The note said that the provisions suggested in the bill and those proposed by the Committee, failed to ensure the interests of the Indian people, who may be affected in a nuclear accident.