The decision follows the conclusion that the Cobalt-60 pencils in the scrap medical equipment that caused severe radiation-related injuries to a number of people in the scrap market in Delhi had their origins abroad. But, it is yet to be identified where exactly these radioactive material came from and through which entry point.
The government has also realised that the country is in urgent need of a civil compensation law for radiation-related accidents, the lack of which will prevent the victims of the Mayapuri radiation from getting any compensation from the government.
Already, two FCS have been installed at the Nhava Sheva port in Gujarat, and 12 more will be installed at various ports. “These are very special equipment manufactured by only a few firms,” Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Chavan said the ministries of Home and Shipping would be the nodal ministries in the implementation and operation of the equipment that would be able to detect any radioactive waste that might come in from abroad through various border entry points or ports.
Incidentally, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board had about four years ago recommended procurement of such equipment, but the government kept it on pending till now. It had also advised the scarp dealers’ associations to procure some equipment to check any potential radioactive waste.
“The detection capabilities have been aimed as per international guidelines, to detect a variety of radioactive substances emitting gamma rays and neutrons,” Chavan told the House that witnessed a calling attention notice on the situation arising out of the Delhi incident.
Chavan said: “In addition, portable equipment are being procured for use by the National Disaster Response Force of the National Disaster Management Authority and by the Emergency Response Teams of the Department of Atomic Energy for radiation detection.”