Kathmandu, Sept 16: Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Giriraj Mani Pokharel, Monday stressed on the need of increasing study and research in the science and technology.
The minister expressed this view while taking part in the discussions on the 'Bill Designed to Provide for the Safe and Peaceful Use of Atomic and Radioactive Substances', in the meeting of the Education and Health Committee of the House of Representatives today.
He said that it would be appropriate to take ahead the bill only after holding extensive discussions on it in the committee. "The clause-wise discussions on the bill should be pursued only after studying the several topics by giving more time as it is a technical matter," he suggested.
Committee member Gagan Kumar Thapa said many provisions in the bill will have to be clearly defined. Another member Chitra Lekha Yadav also suggested making some changes in the Act.
Dev Gurung said the government should adopt precaution and alertness while providing license to the private sector in the transaction of radioactive substances.
Jeevan Ram Shrestha said the bill should be forwarded only after holding adequate discussions in the committee.
The bill states that by 'atomic substances' should be understood Uranium 233, Uranium 235 or refined uranium, Plutonium and its isotopes. Similarly, as per the bill, by 'radioactive substances' it should be understood Alfa particles, Beta particles, X-ray or Gamma rays that can emit radioactive energy.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was instituted in 1957 as an autonomous body under the United Nations Organization by a separate statute and with the goal of encouraging the peaceful use of atomic and nuclear energy and of preventing the use of such energy for military purposes and development of nuclear arms.