May 2, 2010 9:59 AM

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DU denies dumping of Uranium inside campus, some years ago

The National Disaster Management Authority, NDMA has recommended that Delhi government screen people residing or visiting Mayapuri scrap yard, which was affected by radiation contamination last month. A senior NDMA member said screening is necessary to rule out the possibility of anyone else being exposed. He said, this is one of the recommendations made to Delhi government besides the scanning of all the shops in the scrapyard of Mayapuri to find out any remaining sources of cobalt 60.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, AERB has sent full information on the radiation problem in Delhi's Mayapuri locality to the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA. The AERB, country's apex radiation safety regulator, also categorised the incident as level four on the International Nuclear and Radiation event Scale denoting high radiation exposure to more than one person.<br/><br/>Earlier yesterday, the IAEA sought more information from India about mishandling of radioactive material by Delhi University.<br/><br/>The AERB inspected the University's radioactive material storage room after it reported seepage of rainwater in it. The Delhi University is in the eye of a storm after it came to light that Cobalt-60, which led to radiation exposure claiming one life in Mayapuri, originated from the varsity which auctioned a Gamma Irradiator to a scrap dealer.<br/><br/>In the meantime, Delhi University and the AERB have rejected claims that 20 kg of uranium was dumped inside the campus a few years back and ruled out fears about safety of radioactive materials in its laboratories.<br/><br/>AERB scientist Dr Raju Kumar also said that there is no evidence about radioactive material being dumped inside the campus. He, however, said there were certain radioactive materials which did not have proper labelling and they have been taken care of.<br/><br/>A four-member team of AERB launched a probe into lapses by DU in auctioning of radioactive material. The team is also looking for radioactive pencils which reportedly went missing.<br/><br/>Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal has said that the guidelines will be formulated within a week for Universities on ways to dispose off harmful materials used in their labs. <br/>

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