DU and AERB reject claims of Uranium being 'dumped' in the campus
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, May 01, 2010
DU rejected the Uranium dumping claims
AERB and DU on Saturday rejected the media reports that 20 kg of Uranium was 'dumped' inside the university campus a few years back and ruled out fears about safety of radioactive materials in its laboratories.
In a hurriedly convened press conference, its Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental termed it as wrong that 20 kg of uranium was buried in the campus as claimed by a terminated professor.
"This is wrong. If 20 kg of uranium was dumped somewhere in the campus, it would not have been possible for us to sit here," Dr. Deepak Pental told media in New Delhi on Saturday.
AERB scientist Dr. Raju Kumar said that there was no evidence about radioactive material being dumped inside the campus.
He, however, said "there were certain radioactive materials which did not have proper labelling and they have been taken care of."
Pental alleged that Proffesor Ramesh Chandra, who made these allegations, "could have done this to settle personal score as he has been terminated from the service for financial irregularities."
A four-member team from the AERB launched a probe into lapses by the university in auctioning of radioactive material, which led to the death of a man in the city. The team is also looking for radioactive pencils which reportedly went missing.
The Vice Chancellor did not entertain the question regarding the demand of the DUTA (Delhi University Teachers’ Association) that he should resign.
