No radiation detectors still in Mayapuri scrap market

Even 16 months after it was hit by radiation, leaving one person dead and eight seriously injured, the Mayapuri market in west Delhi, the biggest scrap market in India, still does not have a regulatory body.

Even 16 months after it was hit by radiation, leaving one person dead and eight seriously injured, the Mayapuri market in west Delhi, the biggest scrap market in India, still does not have a regulatory body.

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In April 2010, radioactive Cobalt 60 from a Delhi University (DU) laboratory that was auctioned off found its way to the market.

Although six professors were chargesheeted by the Delhi Police on Friday, the scrap dealers are still on the edge, as there is no mechanism to detect hazardous materials.

"The market is not equipped with detectors, even though it is common practice in steel recycling factories in other countries. The presence of toxic heavy metals and harmful chemicals threatens people living in the area," said Deepak Jain, who suffered radiation injuries in the crisis last April.

Sharad Sinha, a scrap dealer, said, "We have been facing an acute shortage of workers after the incident. Ever since the incident, no one wants to come and work here."