Antinuclear

Delhi radiation case: AEC, AERB also culpable, Rediff.com India News, Dr A Gopalakrishnan, April 22, 2010 The Atomic Energy Commission and its subordinate organisations have the mandate to put in place a comprehensive plan to ensure nuclear safety in the country, but that does not seem to have been done, writes Dr A Gopalakrishnan, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. The Hindu on April 18 had a report on the radioactive material recently found in scrap shops in New Delhi [ Images ], which cites Dr S Banerjee, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission as having said that “Whatever happened in Delhi had nothing to do with the activities of my department….This is an appalling statement from the AEC chairman, considering the all-encompassing responsibility and powers entrusted, both constitutionally and administratively, to the AEC and its subordinate institutions to ensure the safety of the general public and workers, wherever the presence or use of nuclear materials is involved…….

Since this investigation is also to evaluate the extent of culpability of the AERB & the AEC themselves, it will be pointless to have these very same agencies investigate the matter, and that too in secrecy. I can personally vouch from my earlier experience as chairman, AERB that the DAE and the AERB often use the Official Secrets Act much more to cover up the serious lapses and inactions in their operations than to protect the safety or security of the public….

Just this month, our prime minister announced in Washington his decision to set up a global centre for nuclear energy partnership in India, to be run with international cooperation. This centre, among other things, is envisaged to conduct research on nuclear security, radiation safety, and the application of radioisotopes!

Instead of jumping into such high-profile international efforts merely for publicity, I wish the prime minister will spend time and effort to focus on cleaning up our own backyard first and rectify the sad state in which we find the Indian nuclear program today, under his leadership. Delhi radiation case: AEC, AERB also culpable: Rediff.com India News