Frame norms to handle radioactive material in universities,UGC told

UGC chairperson Sukhdeo Thorat said a letter will be issued to all educational institutes — government-run,aided and private — suggesting that purchase,usage,storage of all chemicals and other material,including radioactive substances,should be done strictly as per established rules.

While the UGC will issue this letter early next week,the commission will also institute a committee of experts to streamline and compile all laboratory and scientific research-related regulations and frame new regulations for areas that are not covered under the present rules.

HRD minister Kapil Sibal also met the UGC chairman on the issue and directed that the Commission formulates guidelines for courses like nanotechnology now on offer at various institutes.

Sibal will also write to all ministries concerned with scientific research to help evolve comprehensive and definitive set of guidelines on lab safety rules,sources said.

Newsline had reported that the HRD ministry had sought information from DU on the Cobalt-60 issue. The ministry is also concerned that similar situations might arise at other universities as well.

The Atomic Energy
Radiation Board has already sent an inquiry committee to DU and is considering action over the flouting of safety rules.

Siblings to donate bone marrow to Mayapuri radiation victims
After extensive tests,doctors on Friday identified siblings of Ajay and Deepak Jain as donors for the bone marrow transplant both the patients are awaiting. Both are admitted at the Army Research and Referral (R&R) Hospital after exposure to radioactive source in Mayapuri scrap market earlier this month. “We have found donors. The date of transplant is not fixed but the patients are stable,” a senior hospital official said.

The police have asked the Delhi University (DU) for a detailed report regarding the gamma irradiator,which was auctioned by the university,to ascertain the persons responsible for the mishap.

The radioactive waste was supposed to be sent to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for disposal,but it was auctioned off to scrap dealers in Mayapuri.

When the origin of the cobalt-60 was investigated,it was revealed that the DU authorities were not aware that the gamma irradiator contained radioactive elements. A senior police officer said the incident showed extreme irresponsibility on the part of DU as proper procedure to dispose of the waste was not followed. ENS