Monitoring Radioactive Waste

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board carries out inspection of universities, institutions, and hospitals etc using radioactive sources to verify compliance to the regulatory requirements pertaining to safe disposal of radioactive wastes.

From January 2009 to June 2010, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has issued around 400 authorizations to various universities, institutions, hospitals etc for safe disposal of radioactive wastes under the provisions of the Atomic Energy(Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987. The safe waste disposal mechanism is based on the physical and chemical form, activity content and half life, water solubility, combustibility etc of the waste. After careful review of the above characteristics AERB allows the safe disposal either at the site of installation itself or an authorized National waste disposal facility. Appropriate transport regulations prescribed by AERB are also enforced during the transport of the radioactive waste prior to its safe disposal.

As per the provisions of the Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987, the monitoring of radioactive wastes is to be carried out by the respective institutions, hospitals, universities etc. No separate agency is required to monitor radioactive bio-waste in the country.

This Information was given by Sh.Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions & Parliamentary Affairs in reply to a written question in Lok Sabha recently.

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SBS/RS