New Delhi: The country`s nuclear regulator
Tuesday virtually junked the findings of an international
advocacy group on high levels of radiation in Mayapuri scrap
market here.
In a statement, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)
admitted there was some contamination in local spots but it
could not pose any health detriment.
The nuclear regulator pointed out that all the Cobalt-60
sources from the disposed off gamma cell have been recovered
earlier and the same was confirmed on the basis of inventory
check of the radioactive material transferred to Narora Atomic
Power Station.
"However, some traces of dust or particles of Cobalt-60
arising from cutting of the radioactive pieces have left some
contamination in local spots.
"Radiation from these spots was far below levels which
could pose any immediate health detriment," said the statement
issued on behalf of Om Pal Singh, secretary, AERB.
Environment advocacy group Greenpeace had on Friday
claimed to have found six hotspots with "considerably elevated
radiation levels".
A person who stands continuously about a metre away from
a hotspot for five days is likely to receive the maximum
allowed dose of radiation, Jan Vande Putte, a Greenpeace
radiation safety expert had said.
As a matter of caution, disaster response officials had
sealed one of the shops in Mayapuri (No D2/32) where
radiation levels were found to be on the higher side.
The scrap dealers were apprised of the situation during a
workshop AERB had conducted for them on May 6.
"During the programme, they were told about the
radiological status of the shop D2/32 and higher than normal
radiation levels existing in small spots outside the shop. The
dealers were also told that the shop and the adjoining area
will soon be cleared of radioactive contamination," the AERB
said.
It added that officials of the AERB, Department of Atomic
Energy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had carried
out a clean-up operation in the Mayapuri area over the weekend
on May 15-16, as planned earlier.
"Accordingly, the clean-up operation carried out over the
weekend has brought down the radiation levels significantly,"
the AERB said adding that the de-contamination exercise will
continue over the next weekend so as to cause minimal
disruption in normal activities in the market.
PTI
