AERB To Consider Action Against Delhi University

Fresh Fears Over Cobalt-60 Pencils

India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) will meet soon to decide on the action to be taken against Delhi University in the wake of the recent cobalt-60 scare in the city.

The board has received a response to its request for information from the university after an irradiation machine containing the cobalt-60 was sold to a scrap dealer in the city. A number of cobalt-60 pencils are still missing.

The resultant leak of cobalt-60 caused the death of one person and the hospitalisation f seven others.

Dr Ompal Singh, secretary of the AERB, said it was ‘‘too early’’ to comment on the the university’s response. However, senior officers at AERB and BARC said they had found “discrepancies”.

‘‘We are waiting for the police to investigate the auction and those involved in it. We will collaborate the two reports before taking a final decision,’’ a board member told The Times of India.

An AERB team visited Delhi University on Monday to check levels of uranium near the university’s science laboratories.

‘‘We have received a communication from the Mumbai headquarters of AERB stating that searches are still going on. A final report will be sent to us only when the entire process is over,’’ said DCP (North) Sagarpreet Hooda.

It is believed that the lead cover of the gamma irradiator -- in which the radioactive metal was kept -- was melted at a furnace at Rewari in Haryana by a scrap dealer and there are fears that some of the cobalt-60 pencils had fallen into the “wrong hands”.

The Delhi government has directed all medical establishments in the city to dispose of radioactive material strictly as per rules and regulations framed by the AERB.