Delhi govt to procure radiation detection equipment

To prevent recurrence of any Mayapuri-type radiation leak, the Delhi government will soon procure sophisticated equipment to scan vulnerable areas where such exposure may take place.

Delhi's environment secretary Dharmendra said his department has also completed screening of all the scrapyards in the city following radiation leak at the scrap market in Mayapuri in northwest Delhi in April that left one person dead and seven seriously injured.

He said environment department will soon launch global tenders for procuring latest equipment to track radioactive material at scrap markets and other vulnerable areas.

The radioactive leak at the Mayapuri scrap market had raised serious question mark over the safety norms being adopted by educational institutions and hospitals while disposing of such materials.

Radioactive material Cobalt-60 auctioned by Delhi University had found ways to the scrap market.

"We have taken the incident very seriously. We have already completed a survey of all the scrapyards across the city and measures are being taken in consultation with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to ensure that such an incident does not happen in future," Dharmendra told PTI.

Although AERB is the concerned agency to ensure safety measures, Delhi government was procuring radiation detection equipment to step up monitoring in scrap markets and other vulnerable places, he said.

Officials said Delhi government was also contemplating making it mandatory for scrap dealers to register with the environment department.

Although some scrap dealers have registered with the government, hundreds of others are operating in the city without permission.