May 3: The Delhi government on Monday enforced rules and regulations for disposal of radioactive material in all medical establishments as per directives of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) under Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive
Wastes) Rules 1987 and Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules 2004 in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Delhi health minister Kiran Walia said that the guidelines have been issued to all the heads of hospitals, medical centres, diagnostic centres, medical labs using radioactive equipments or consumable for their safe disposal.
The minister added that the guidelines also include adequate surveillance of likely leakages, emergency preparedness, adopting adequate safety norms while decommissioning radiation installations. “There are penalties prescribed for violation of these rules. The recent exposure has brought to focus the emergent need to safely in dealing with radio-active materials and equipments and isotopes used in nuclear medicines,” the minister added.