The controversial bill that provides for payment of compensation in the event of a nuclear accident was introduced in the Lok Sabha today amid protests and walkout by opposition NDA and Left parties which termed it as "illegal" and "unconstitutional".

The Civil Liability For Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010, whose passage is a key requirement for operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal, was moved by minister of state in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan after a clash between ruling and opposition members.

The bill provides for the maximum liability of Rs 500 crore on the part of the operator in the case of a nuclear accident, a provision that is the main cause of opposition by the NDA and Left parties.

Mukherjee, while objecting to the opposition members' attempt to discuss merits of the bill, said their behaviour was "obnoxious" and amounts to "Parliamentary obstruction".

To express their opposition to the bill, members of NDA and Left parties walked out of the House.

Afterwards, the bill was introduced.

This is "illegal", "unconstitutional" and "anti-people", said Acharia earlier while opposing introduction of the bill during which members of Congress repeatedly clashed with those from Left and NDA.

He said the bill violates the right to life of Indians and ignores a Supreme Court judgement which holds that the polluter will have to pay the principal amount of compensation.

The proposed legislation will also compromise the right of a victim to approach the courts for "adequate compensation" because the compensation has been "capped".

Joshi also said the bill would violate Article 21 and go against the SC ruling on liability on the polluter besides violating the environmental laws.

He said till now, a victim had a right to "unlimited liability" but the proposed law would put a cap on compensation.

"It is a crime that someone else commits an offence and we pay for it," the BJP leader said.

Dasgupta also said the proposed legislation contradicts the SC judgement.

Sinha said the bill was not in tune with similar legislations across the world. In this context, he said that in the US, there is a provision for compensation to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore, 23 times higher than Rs 2,600 crore as proposed in the new bill.