Its notification on May 7 had warned industrial radiography institutions that the existing transport containers carrying radioactive materials do not have adequate protection devices.
A leak in containers carrying radioactive material at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport here on Friday has exposed the lack of co-ordination between companies using the material and the nuclear regulatory body, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
Barely three weeks ago, the AERB had red-flagged the process of transportation of nuclear material for industrial use.
Its notification on May 7 had warned industrial radiography institutions that the existing transport containers carrying radioactive materials do not have adequate protection devices.
"The manufacturers/suppliers of all these devices have stopped the supply of original spare parts required during their maintenance and servicing. Therefore, in the absence of valid Type-B certificate and non-availability of critical spare parts, above Industrial Gama Radiography Exposure Devices (IGREDs) need to be disposed off by radiography institutions," the notification said.
"All the concerned industrial radiography institutions are therefore requested to comply with the notification and initiate effective steps for procurement of alternate AERB type approved IGREDs", the statement added.
Çelebi Delhi Cargo Management India Pvt Ltd, the cargo company, refused to comment. Its officials informed the police around 8.30 am.
The leak was detected in a consignment carrying sodium iodide 131 – a radioactive liquid used in nuclear medicine – that arrived in a commercial flight from Istanbul, Turkey.
The flight, also carrying passengers, arrived at the IGI airport at 4:30 am, after which the consignment was brought to the Celebi warehouse, to be distributed to hospitals across India.
Two workers, Randhir Singh and R K Pandey, felt an irritation in their eyes informed their bosses.
Authorities rushed an emergency response unit to the site that included representatives of the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) , Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Airport staff were directed to stay away from the area and the cargo was cordoned off.
Later in the day, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, who was holding a news conference on a separate issue, said the leak had been "plugged". The workers who noticed the leakage were discharged from the hospital and are stated to be 'fit'.
A senior police officer told dna that a case of negligence is yet to be registered. "There were 11 containers, and four of them were leaking some liquid. An investigation will reveal the real cause of the leak if there was any," the officer said.
Even as a spokesperson of Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd or DIAL, later in the evening, said that AERB confirmed that there was no leak of any radioactive substance, the liquid that was found to be leaking could have been dangerous when exposed to prolonged hours.
A preliminary assessment by AMD indicated the material was "low radioactivity Sodium Iodide Liquid Class 7 meant for medicinal use"
More disturbing revelations were later made by workers who unload radiaoctive materials.
"We mostly pick the containers with our hands," said a worker casually. Another one, requesting anonymity, said: "We have raised safety concerns here, especially after a major fire broke out a few years ago. But no one cares".
Turkish Airlines maintained that necessary controls and radiological surveys have been carried out on board the aircraft as it landed back in Istanbul.
Safety of nuclear material, particularly in medical usage, has remained questionable in India. It is mandatory for X-ray centres to register and seek licence from the AERB. Health minister J P Nada recently told Lok Sabha that only 10,235 centres were registered across the country. He admitted that more than 90 per cent X-ray and diagnostic clinics hadn't even applied for certifications and were running illegally.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in one of its review report, had asked India to come out with a "national policy" on nuclear safety and radioactive waste management, and called for some more "internal emergency arrangements."
The IAEA review came after the government handed over the civilian nuclear reactors for international scrutiny.
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