All within Limits-Radioactive Waste Disposal at IRE

Radioactive Waste Disposal at IR E V T Padmanabhan The Indian Rare Earths (IRE) Plant at Alwaye in Kerala processes thorium bearing mineral sands releasing highly radioactive waste. Environmental contamination can occur either because of the improper disposal of these wastes or because of accidental release of such material. This article which appears in two parts reports on the status of radioactive waste disposal at IRE and points out that the plant may be disregarding standard interna tional scientific practice and so posing a grave threat to the environment IN the forties the nuclear power technology had not arrived as yet, but its science was known. It was also known that besides uranium, thorium could also be used for fuelling such a reactor. India and Brazil, two major exporters of thorium bearing ore