New Delhi: Police vans across 80 cities will
be equipped with radiation monitors to detect presence of any
radioactive source in a given area, the Lok Sabha was informed
on Wednesday.
"The government has proposed to equip 800 police stations
covering 80 cities of India with radiation monitors, including
mobile radiation detection systems that can be fitted to
Police Control Room (PCR) vans," Minister of State in the PMO
V Narayanasamy said in a written reply.
He said equipping police vans with radiation monitors
will help police detect and get alerted about a radioactive
source or a radiologically contaminated area or detect any
radioactive source that is being transported.
Narayanasamy said the Department of Atomic Energy has
established 20 emergency response centres equipped with
radiation monitors and protective gear for emergency response
teams.
Such centres are capable of mobile radiological
monitoring through trained emergency response teams, he said.
The move to equip PCR vans with radiation detection
equipment comes in the wake of the infamous Mayapuri radiation
incident in Delhi where one person was killed and seven
scalded due to exposure to radioactive Cobalt 60 disposed of
as scrap by a Delhi University department.
PTI
