Page 128 - AERB

8.3 REGULATORY EXPERIENCE FEEDBACK 8.4 STRENGTHENING OF REGULATORY

(i) Actions Pertaining to Management of Disused INTERFACES
Sealed Radioactive Sources (DSRS) AERB is associated with various agencies in the

AERB conducted a meeting on January 30, 2019 with process of ensuring radiation safety in medical radiation
representatives from BRIT, Waste Management Division, facilities and industries handling radiation sources.
BARC, Mumbai and Centralised Waste Management AERB is routinely interacting with various ministries for
Facilities (CWMF), Kalpakkam to discuss the issues resolution of generic issues related to radiation safety
pertaining to management of disused sources. The issues owing to handling of radiation sources for various
aroused due to utilities’ request for transfer of their foreign applications. Towards this, AERB has interacted with
origin sources to waste disposal agencies in India because following concerned ministries departments/institutes.
of various reasons like non-existence of original supplier (i) Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP)
abroad, exorbitant cost quoted by the original supplier
and non-availability of proper documentation for export A meeting was organized with IIP on January
etc. The officials in the meeting discussed the criteria for 18, 2019 to have a clear understanding on roles and
accepting the disused sources for disposal in India and responsibilities of AERB and IIP, with respect to the
also to assess the feasibility of accepting the applications package design approval for transport of radioactive
pertaining to DSRS by the waste management agency. material to ensure seamless regulatory arrangement.

A communication was sent to Chairman, AEC & (ii) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Secretary, DAE to establish a formal mechanism for (MORTH)
management of disused sources in the interest of securing
public safety. Subsequently, a meeting was arranged with Joint meetings were organized with the
BARC to establish the roles and responsibilities of the representatives from AERB and Ministry of Road
AERB and BARC with regard to the management of DSRS Transport and Highways at Transport Bhavan, New
for its safe disposal in the country. Inputs with regard to Delhi on April 30, 2019 and June 17, 2019 to identify
establishing the mechanism for the management of DSRS the gap areas in national regulations with regard to
was prepared by AERB in line with the National Policy international regulatory framework for the purpose of
on Management of Radioactive Waste and forwarded to safe transport of radioactive material by road and to
DAE. understand and establish the roles and responsibilities
of the concerned enforcing agencies.
(ii) Response to National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) (iii) Directorate General of Health Services
(DGHS)
National Human Rights Commission sought response
from AERB with regard to a complaint regarding AERB initiated coordination with DGHS to work
functioning of Directorate of Radiation Safety (DRS) out strategies and mechanisms for effective regulation
in Kerala and unregulated medical X-ray equipment, of Clinical Establishments (CE) using medical devices
operating in the State to which AERB provided emitting ionizing radiation. This co-ordination
clarifications. AERB also provided the detailed response mechanism is being evolved to fulfil AERB’s mandate
on the historical background on formation of DRS in of ensuring radiation safety of medical devices emitting
Kerala and subsequent change in their responsibilities ionizing radiation under Atomic Energy (Radiation
after implementation of web-based licensing system Protection) Rules, 2004 (promulgated under the Atomic
(eLORA) and mechanism by which AERB regulates Energy Act, 1962), while simultaneously fulfilling the
medical X-ray in all the States of the country. The requirements spelt under the provisions of Clinical
Commission disposed of the petition subsequently based Establishment Act, 2010, by the National, State & UT’s
on response from AERB. Authorities.

100 AERB Annual Report 2019