Faced with a possible threat of dirty bombs or weapons of mass disruption from terrorists, the Centre has placed its classified project “Mobile Radiation Detection Systems”, or MRDS, to train and arm local police forces to detect early stages and types of radiation leak on a top priority basis. “By the end of this year, MRDS in many cities should become a reality. There are instructions from the top that the project should not be delayed any longer,” sources in the Union home ministry told this newspaper.
MRDS will be implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority, with MHA approval. Under the project, the NDMA will shortly allot 930 police patrol vehicles across 56 cities, that will be mounted with “Go No Go” detectors, which will let off an alert in case of a radiation leak during patrolling and will also indicate the level, cause and type of radiation. “Police vehicles with radiation detectors will be allotted depending upon the vulnerability of the city. Bengaluru will get 40 vehicles with ‘Go No Go’ detectors. The vehicles in the city will be distributed from VIP areas to entry and exit points and scrap dumps,” an official said.
A “Go No Go” detector is an inspection tool, which is used to check a location or work piece for a leak, that is higher than the permitted tolerance level. “The detectors will be installed in the police patrol vehicles with set values. During patrolling, if the vehicle detects a higher radiation value, the detectors will set off an alarm that will trigger an immediate emergency response from the survey team, which will be located at the nearest police station. The team will have survey kits, which will reach the place in no time and detect the value and type of radiation leak. The teams will be given appropriate gears for radiation mapping and control,” the official added.
There are 22 emergency response systems/teams located across India. “The numbers of emergency response systems for radiation checks have multiplied in no time. There used to be one team earlier. Now there are 22 and the numbers are on the rise,” a source indicated, adding that the police teams will be trained by personnel from the department of atomic energy. The trainers will include some National Disaster Response Force personnel.
“It will have to be simple and culture specific, because the police play multiple roles and their training must be simple, and something that will stay with them,” he added.
