NEW DELHI, Aug 10: The damage to the repository tanks at Domiasiat in September 2020 was man-made and there was no explosion or leakage as claimed by some local NGOs and reported in the media, Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has said.
A team of scientific officers and technical staff of the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Northeastern Region, Shillong visited the site to inspect the alleged damage in the presence of the Deputy Superintendent of Police concerned, Singh said in an official communication to Shillong MP Vincent H Pala.
He said the team observed some man-made holes on the top slab covering of the repository tanks which were also repaired. He said the team had visited the site again after a month to inspect and supervise the repair work. The radioactivity level over these tanks was again measured and it was recorded to be below the permissible limit. There was no leakage of radioactive material, Singh said.
The team collected samples of water from the water bodies near the site and confirmed that there was no leakage or contamination of uranium in the water bodies as well as surrounding areas, the Union minister said.
After a thorough inspection with radiation detection instruments, the team did not record any harmful radiation leakage or seepage from these tanks, he said allying fears.
Community and Rural Development Minister Hamletson Dohling, who visited the site then, had claimed there were cracks as well as leakages in the uranium tanks.
He had raised an alarm by describing the situation as “dangerous”. He had expressed surprise over the repair works. He said he had no idea as to who gave the order for the repair works.
“I have seen that there were cracks in the tanks, but it is very surprising that there were signs of repairing. I don’t have knowledge about who gave the order to repair. The marks of recent repairing and sealing of cracks and holes in the uranium tanks is quite visible…Cracks and leakages have been repaired and holes sealed,” he had said.
Dohling had also said there was truth in what was being reported by the youth. The state government viewed the matter seriously and decided to form an expert panel to investigate and unearth the truth, he had said.
“The expert committee will find out whether the radiation level is low, medium or high because right now the situation in Nongbah Jynrin does not seem to be that safe,” he had said.
