Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

It is reported that the technology, CCS is of absorbing the greenhouse gas (CHG) CO2 in some matrix at the emission points and store the gas under or on the sea bed instead of discharging in to the atmosphere is an excellent idea from the global warming and climate change considerations. The emission points are the environmental discharge points of the power plants based on fossil fuel. Alternatively, it is reported that the gas can also be stored underground in vacant or disused natural gas fields.

Parallel can be seen in the underground disposal of radioactive wastes. Risk of leakages is similar in both the situations. In an event of any leakage of CO2 in the sea water, there will be a change the sea water acidity (increase) destroying the marine life. Hence, as in the case of radioactive waste, the disposal in the sea bed of the CO2 canisters should be banned internationally. The only alternative will be as in the case of high-level radioactive waste, the well-sealed CO2 canisters can be disposed off in stable and deep geological formations without much risk of any leakages reaching the environment.

Indian nuclear liability bill

The nuclear liability bill, which seeks to cap the liability of foreign nuclear suppliers to a meager amount of Rupees 500 Crore in case of nuclear accidents, is in trouble in the Indian Parliament. Keeping in mind the comprehensive clean-up requirements in case of an accident, the actual liabilities may be over 1000 times more than the amount specified in the bill.

It means if things work out safely, the companies will sell nuclear materials and equipments and make money, and if some thing goes wrong, the Indian tax payers will have to bear the huge cost of cleaning up and take responsibility for the expensive medical management of the exposed population for long period of time.

Now that in the wake of the Bhopal gas tragedy verdict, it is very relevant that appropriate legislation with proper clauses should be in place to allow fastening of unlimited liability on the suppliers and operators of the plants who were responsible for disasters causing large scale area contamination and casualties to large number of persons. The laws should clearly address issues such as proper monetary compensation for the victims, pay for the clean-up of the contaminated areas and ensure installation of fail-safe safety systems to avoid major nuclear accidents.