At last a figure to aim for. BP, after a meeting with President Obama, has agreed to pay no dividends to shareholders this quarter and instead to put $ 20 billion into an escrow account to be managed by an independent third party who will quickly disburse relief to claimants. Since loss of life is vastly more serious than loss of livelihood we should aim for a fund of at least $ 100 billion for the nuclear liability bill. Given India's population density a Chernobyl style disaster will leave hundreds of thousands dead and a radioactive cloud could blow into neighboring countries. Given India's less than friendly relations with all our neighbors there is sure be great clamor for compensation from the country affected. The danger is that if people know that there is a pot of gold waiting there will be an even greater outcry but it is still better to have money set aside to be paid only to proven cases.

On to an amusing story of brotherly love. Seems that brothers Anil and Mukesh Ambani had an unwritten understanding that Mukesh would supply gas at $ 2.4 to Anil for power projects. Mukesh reneged and asked for $ 4.2. This led to a bitter war of words and a court case lasting 5 years. The government sided with Mukesh saying that the gas belonged to it and a higher price would enhance its earnings. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mukesh and instantly the brothers fell into each other's arms and made up. In the process NTPC, a government owned company which also had and agreement for gas at $ 2.4 got screwed. Seems that the brothers succeeded in making the government screw itself. Brilliant.