Uranium mining: NGO’s fears unfounded
By K.S.Parthasarathy
Movement Against Uranium Projects (MAUP), a Hyderabad-based NGO opposes opening of uranium mines in Nalgonda and Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh by the Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL). Its fears are unfounded.
While there is room for discussion, MAUP has gone overboard. It blindly parrots the unsubstantiated allegations of “Jharkhand Organization Against Radiation” (JOAR), another NGO, on lack of safety at the uranium mine in Jaduguda.
UCIL has been mining uranium ore and processing it safely for nearly 40 years. The Company must go an extra mile to address the legitimate concerns of the public.
UCIL has complied and complies with the safety related requirements in operating its mines right from its very inception. The levels of radiation and radioactive releases from their facilities have been well within the limits prescribed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). UCIL shall operate safely the new mines to be opened in Andhra Pradesh.
JOAR’s allegation that from 1994 to 1997, 101 UCIL employees succumbed due to radiation overexposure is patently absurd, libelous and without any foundation. So is its claim that thirty people died during 1997. Uranium miners on an average receive a dose of 5 to 8 millisieverts (mSv) per year, much less than the annual dose limit of 30 mSv prescribed by AERB. No worker exceeded the annual dose limit. The fatal dose is about 4,000 to 5,000 mSv (mSv is a unit of radiation dose. In a typical chest x-ray examination, the skin receives a dose of 0.2mSv)
Equally frivolous and ridiculous claims of JOAR include –hold your breath - changes in menstrual cycles of women in Jaduguda (where UCIL has been operating its first uranium mine since 1967), infertility, gynecological problems, weakness, depression, births of children with one eye, disfigured face, twisted legs etc.
After carrying out a dedicated health survey within 2 km of Jaduguda, medical specialists have concluded that diseases and symptoms found in Jaduguda are not related to radiation.
If there in no uranium, there will be no cobalt-60 units (used to treat cancer) or life-saving radioisotopes. Before demanding the ban on uranium mining, MAUP and JOAR must have a heart to heart chat with cancer specialists faced with the daunting task of treating cancer patients. They must go to the radiotherapy centres in Andhra Pradesh and address the patients and their relatives about alternatives to this form of therapy!
Though MAUP dismisses the enviable achievements of Indian scientists, India’s pre-eminent status as a country with advanced nuclear technology has been recognized by all. Because of their expertise International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) invites Indian scientists to serve the Agency as consultants, advisers and members of their technical committees over the past for several decades.
[Dr. K.S.Parthasarathy is former Secretary, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Mumbai]
