After DU Cobalt-60 disaster, Sibal wants guidelines at universities

INDIA:  After radioactive material was sold as scrap by Delhi University leading to the death of a labourer, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal today directed UGC to frame guidelines immediately on procurement, use and disposal of hazardous substances by varsities.

In a letter to the University Grants Commission, the HRD Ministry said the guidelines should stipulate the methods for procurement, handling, storage and disposal of such material which could be fatal.

UGC Chairman Prof Sukhadeo Thorat also met Sibal and discussed the issue. At present, universities get the radioactive materials for their labs with the permission of regulating agencies.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has framed certain guidelines which are supposed to be followed by the universities for procurement and handling of such materials.

However, UGC does not have any policy to this effect.

"The UGC will prepare the immediately guidelines and issue a direction to all universities to follow the guidelines," a ministry official said.

Sibal will also consult other ministers for a comprehensive policy of handling of hazardous materials by the research agencies under the respective ministries.

Exposure to the radioactive material has led to the death of a scrap shop worker in west Delhi. A few others, including the shop owner, are undergoing treatment after they were exposed to the same material earlier this month.

The source of material was traced to chemistry department of Delhi University. The Cobalt-60 was imported by the varsity in 1968 from Canada. The material was lying in a room for 25 years and the chemistry department wanted to sell it off.

Eleven sources of radiation were detected in the Mayapuri scrap market where Cobalt-60 was recovered this month. It is a radioactive isotope of cobalt, which is a hard, lustrous, grey metal and is used in cancer therapy machines and other medical equipment.

The Cobalt-60 that may still be out there in Delhi

DELHI: There is the likelihood of deadly metallic pencils that carry the radioactive Cobalt-60 lying in the open somewhere in Delhi.

India's nuclear watchdog is investigating the Delhi University radioactive Cobalt-60 leak and has said Mayapuri, in the heart of the Capital, is still a big concern.

An extensive search is on for the nuclear metallic pencils believed missing and NDTV has exclusive pictures of this waste that carries deadly radiation.

The photographs above are a first look at the nuclear scrap material seized by the board. These pencils contain the Cobalt-60 that has already claimed one life in India's first case of radiation poisoning.

The first image (1) shows what is called the "cage". It has 48 slots to hold 48 Cobalt-60 pencils. There is only one pencil stuck in one of those slots.

In the second image (2) is a deadly pencil in a cylinder. The authorities have found 5 of these pencils.

The third image (3) is that of the actual Cobal-60-bearing aluminium pencil. Each pencil is about 24 cm long.

The fourth image (4) is of lead-lined bins with the nuclear waste inside them.

The regulatory board has issued a lookout for the missing pencils. It has also cautioned people to keep away if they come across these metallic pencils and immediately inform the police.