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119628
Sat, 05/01/2010 - 09:06
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Sibal asks UGC to frame guidelines on radioactive substance
RADIATION-SIBAL
New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) Concerned over the death of a
person due to exposure to radioactive material sold as scrap
by Delhi University, India's HRD Minister Kapil Sibal Friday
asked UGC to frame a policy immediately on procurement, use
and disposal of hazardous substances by varsities.
HRD Ministry also asked the University Grants
Commission (UGC) to direct universities and colleges to follow
the existing safety guidelines of regulating agencies like
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
The UGC will issue letters to universities and
colleges on Monday to ask them pass a resolution in their
respective executive bodies for implementation of the
guidelines for procurement, handling, storage and disposal of
such material which could be fatal.
UGC Chairman Prof Sukhadeo Thorat met Sibal this
evening and discussed the issue. At present, the universities
get the radioactive materials for their research labs with the
permission of regulating agencies.
"The UGC will prepare guidelines immediately and
issue a direction to all universities to follow them," a
ministry official said.
When contacted, Thorat said that the UGC will prepare
the guidelines keeping in view all safety guidelines framed by
the regulating agencies.
"But by Monday, we will issue a letter to the
universities and colleges and ask them that they should follow
existing guidelines of regulating agencies. We will ask them
to get a resolution passed in their executive councils to this
effect," he said.
The AERB has framed certain guidelines which are
supposed to be followed by the universities for procurement
and handling of such materials.
Sibal will also consult other ministers for a
comprehensive policy for handling of hazardous materials by
the research agencies under their respective ministries.
The ministry official said Sibal was concerned over
the recent incident of exposure to the radioactive material,
leading to the death of a scrap shop worker in west Delhi. A
few others, including the shop owner, are undergoing treatment
after they were exposed to the same material this month.
The source of material was traced to the chemistry
department of Delhi University.
The Cobalt-60 was imported by the varsity in 1968
from Canada. The material was lying in a room for 25 years
and the chemistry department wanted to sell it off.
Eleven sources of radiation were detected in the
Mayapuri scrap market where Cobalt-60 was recovered this
month. Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental has expressed apology
for the lapses. PTI BKM
MRD
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New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) Concerned over the death of a
person due to exposure to radioactive material sold as scrap
by Delhi University, India's HRD Minister Kapil Sibal Friday
asked UGC to frame a policy immediately on procurement, use
and disposal of hazardous substances by varsities.
HRD Ministry also asked the University Grants
Commission (UGC) to direct universities and colleges to follow
the existing safety guidelines of regulating agencies like
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
The UGC will issue letters to universities and
colleges on Monday to ask them pass a resolution in their
respective executive bodies for implementation of the
guidelines for procurement, handling, storage and disposal of
such material which could be fatal.
UGC Chairman Prof Sukhadeo Thorat met Sibal this
evening and discussed the issue. At present, the universities
get the radioactive materials for their research labs with the
permission of regulating agencies.
"The UGC will prepare guidelines immediately and
issue a direction to all universities to follow them," a
ministry official said.
When contacted, Thorat said that the UGC will prepare
the guidelines keeping in view all safety guidelines framed by
the regulating agencies.
"But by Monday, we will issue a letter to the
universities and colleges and ask them that they should follow
existing guidelines of regulating agencies. We will ask them
to get a resolution passed in their executive councils to this
effect," he said.
The AERB has framed certain guidelines which are
supposed to be followed by the universities for procurement
and handling of such materials.
Sibal will also consult other ministers for a
comprehensive policy for handling of hazardous materials by
the research agencies under their respective ministries.
The ministry official said Sibal was concerned over
the recent incident of exposure to the radioactive material,
leading to the death of a scrap shop worker in west Delhi. A
few others, including the shop owner, are undergoing treatment
after they were exposed to the same material this month.
The source of material was traced to the chemistry
department of Delhi University.
The Cobalt-60 was imported by the varsity in 1968
from Canada. The material was lying in a room for 25 years
and the chemistry department wanted to sell it off.
Eleven sources of radiation were detected in the
Mayapuri scrap market where Cobalt-60 was recovered this
month. Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental has expressed apology
for the lapses. PTI BKM
MRD
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.
Delete & Prev | Delete & Next
