‘No radiation source found in Delhi University’ (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI - An Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) team has not found any radiation source on the Delhi University campus, Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental said Saturday.

“AERB officers are already involved in a detailed survey of the area. No abnormal radiation level was found around the area (university campus). It has been screened,” Pental told reporters here.

The AERB team Saturday began investigations into the radiation leak in the capital that has killed one person and injured seven.

The radiation leak was reported about a fortnight ago from a scrap market in Mayapuri area of west Delhi. Police said the source of the leak was a radioactive gamma cell containing Cobalt 60 that was auctioned as scrap by Delhi University’s chemistry department two months ago.

Pental said the university is compiling answers to queries raised by the AERB and the answers will be sent by Monday.

“The sources which we use in research are placed in proper areas. I have visited the area with physics teachers who had radiation monitors and regulatory board officials. We found no leakage, no water seepage and authentication will also be given by the regulatory board when they make their statement,” he said.

He refuted claims by a university professor that 20 kg of radioactive material was buried in the campus. “No research is done using uranium and plutonium unless there is enough protection,” he said.

When asked about the university’s independent probe team, Pental said: “The three-member probe team is not yet formed but the notice will be sent Monday.”

The AERB has issued a show cause notice to the university and has asked it to suspend use of any radioactive material in laboratories. The university has been asked to respond to the notice in two week’s time.

Pental said that university’s physics department had written to AERB in February seeking removal of some radioactive waste.

D.S. Kulshrestha, head of the physics department, earlier said: “We wrote to the AERB seeking its response in removing some radioactive waste. But are yet to receive a reply.”

In 1991, the university had called the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BRAC) for decommissioning some unused radioactive sources.