UGC asked to make rules on radioactive material

Embarrassed that one of its institutions in Delhi was responsible for the leak of radioactive material Cobalt-60, human resource development (HRD) minister Kapil Sibal has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to frame guidelines for handling hazardous material.

The new rules will guide educational institutes on the procurement, handling, transportation, storage and disposal of all hazardous substances.

The chemistry department of Delhi University was found to be the source of Cobalt-60, which caused one death in last week. The substance was found in a Gamma Irradiator that was imported from Canada in 1968 and lying in the university since then.

In February, the department disposed off the irradiator during a junk sale. It was bought by a scrap dealer in Mayapuri, west Delhi. During its dismantling, the lead peeling on the irradiator went off, exposing several workers to Cobalt-60. One of the workers died of the exposure. 

The death has stirred the HRD ministry into action. It also decided to coordinate with other ministries to frame a policy on handling hazardous material. So far, universities have been following guidelines set by the Department of Atomic Energy on radioactive material, but there is no specific UGC policy on this.

“Given the fact that the exposure to Cobalt-60 led to one death, the minister wants comprehensive guidelines on its handling,” said an HRD ministry official.