Kalpakkam: To prevent unauthorised movement of radioactive materials, the Union home ministry has identified more than 900 police stations all over the country to install radiation detectors in police patrol vehicles.
After the Mayapuri incident in Delhi, where radioactive material was carelessly disposed as scrap, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has suggested various measures, including installation of radiation detectors in patrol vehicles to avert radioactive mishap.
“After the installation, if anybody moves radiation sources, it will be detected.
This will prevent unauthorised movement of radioactive materials,” says K.S.Pradeepkumar, head, Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.
He was speaking to DC on the sidelines of the International Conference on “Radiological Safety in Work Place, Nuclear facilities and Environment” held here.
“The government is installing radiation detectors at sea ports, airports and border areas. This will prevent the radioactive sources being smuggled into the country deliberately or inadvertently through metal scrap,” he said.
He reassured that all nuclear power plants are adequately prepared to meet emergency. “But in the event of radioactive source getting lost or getting broken or a dirty bomb threat, our emergency preparedness as of today requires more improvement. So, the atomic energy department has established 23 emergency response centres,” he said.
Police and NDRF are being trained by DAE to do monitoring and respond to radioactive emergency.
“These centres are having emergency response teams and then monitoring systems to search and identify the sources. The radioactive sources can be recovered and taken to the safe custody of DAE, so the public is protected,” he said.
