Remember the dangerous radioactive hotspots Greenpeace found at India’s Mayapuri scrapyard? This morning we went back to see how the authorities had got on with the decontamination of the area. This is what our monitors found…

Greenpeace campaigners distribute leaflets of information about radiation, Cobalt 60 and its impact on workers and traders health to the community at Mayapuri scrap market. (© Maruti Modi / Greenpeace)

‘From our measurements, we can conclude that the hot spots have been removed,’ says Jan Vande Putte, one of out radiation experts. There is some remaining contamination that does not pose an immediate risk to the workers but could still be harmful if left for a longer period of time. ‘The authorities now have the responsibility to draft a comprehensive action plan to further reduce radiation exposure of the public to levels as low as achievable,’ says Jan.

So far authorities have not followed international standards to ensure the highest levels of safety. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board must publish a comprehensive assessment of the situation and its plan for further decontamination, as is normal international practice.  India needs to put in place standards and processes that would to ensure proper decontamination of the area, to safeguard local people.

Greenpeace radiation expert Jan Vande Putte reviews the radiation levels in Mayapuri scrap market. ((© Maruti Modi / Greenpeace)

The Mayapuri incident needs to be a wake-up call for all of us, especially the India’s government. All of the loopholes in the nuclear regulatory system need to be identified and dealt with. India is simply unprepared for the civilian nuclear expansion the government is currently proposing.

Greenpeace also distributed information to the workers and local residents around the impacted area in Mayapuri regarding the possible health impacts of radiation from Cobalt -60. ‘The manner in which the authorities have dealt with this situation, including a complete lack of transparency, is shocking. Blood tests were conducted around a month ago, and yet the results have still not been provided to the people,’ says Karuna Raina, our nuclear campaigner in India.

Earlier statements by the DAE and AERB, issued on April 9th and 16th respectively, indicated that the decontamination process had ensured that the area was ‘safe’. Local people working in the vicinity of the hotspots said that they had no knowledge of any remaining radioactivity. An independent regulatory body is supposed to be protecting the health of people and environment not the nuclear establishment. So why isn’t it?