AMRITSAR: The presence of heavy volume of radioactive particles that causing lung cancer and other health problems, have been detected in the atmosphere in some villages of Hamirpur and Barsar Rameda areas of Himachal Pradesh. Continuous inhaling of air carrying such radioactive particles causes lung cancer and other chest diseases.

These are some of the preliminary findings of the research project “Radon pollution studies inhuman environment” undertaken by Professor Surinder Singh, head of the Physics department, Guru Nanak Dev University.

The studies further revealed the presence of radioactive particles in soil, air, water, grains and vegetables, they are also found in rocks, stones and other building material used in the construction of houses.

Professor Surinder Singh said that these findings are based on the studies conducted in 10houses each, in 15 villages of Himachal Pradesh. According to the principal investigator, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) in the United States, has developed a standard scale for measuring the safety limits of radioactive particles present in an atmosphere. According to this scale the standard level presence of these particles should be four Pico curie per liter (4pei) which is acceptable by the body, but in these villages the presence of these parties have been recorded higher than the safety limits.

Professor Surinder Singh said that the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (B.A.R.C.) Trombay, found deposits of uranium in the sub soils of this hilly area few years ago, but, gave up the digging because it was economically not viable.

Prof Surinder Singh said that the houses had been constructed with material derived from the hills which absorbed radon from the uranium deposits beneath the hills and soil in the region.

Official Apathy Indian Government is aware of the dangers to the inhabitants of the areas contaminated by the nuclear particles but has done nothing to warm the people living in these areas nor provided any other help. It neither is a matter of concern that the Government of India has never conducted any official study nor is any serious discussion allowed. On the subject of nuclear radiation hazards, The 1962 Atomic Energy Act prohibits discussion of the subject. Thousands of workers in Government Nuclear projects die of disease from nuclear radiation and many more are suffering of radiation related diseases. Recently a British team conducted a secret research and documented cases of the thousands of people all over the country who are suffering from such nuclear radiation related diseases. Innocent people have been victims of overexposure or unsafe methods employed under India’s nuclear program.

The Government will probably expected inhabitants of Himachal to reconcile themselves to their fate and suffer as people in India have always been doing.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 19, 1993