Mayapuri
Encyclopedia
Mayapuri is a locality in West Delhi
. It used to be a major hub of small scale industries, but following recent government sanctions, most of the heavy metal industries moved out. The place is now a combination of residential flats (DDA and private), light metal factories and automobile service stations.
The area is mostly residential now, with major localities built by the Delhi Development Authority
(DDA). These include Hari Enclave, Vikrant Enclave, MIG Flats and Maya Enclave. There are some major landmarks in this area like the Food Corporation of India, Metal Forging, New Era Public School
and Din Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. Mayapuri is also one of the major bus terminals for the Delhi Transport Corporation
(DTC).
Gammacell 220 research irradiator owned by Delhi University since 1968, but unused since 1985, was sold at auction to a scrap metal dealer in Mayapuri on February 26, 2010. The orphan source
arrived at Deepak Jain' scrap yard in Mayapuri during March, where it was dismantled by workers unaware of the hazardous nature of the device. The cobalt-60
source was cut into eleven pieces. The smallest of the fragments was taken by Ajay Jain (no relation to Deepak Jain), who kept it in his wallet, two fragments were moved to a nearby shop, while the remaining eight remained in the scrap yard. All of the sources were recovered by mid-April and transported to the Narora Atomic Power Station
, where it was confirmed that all radioactive material originally contained within the device was accounted for. The material remains in the custody of the Department of Atomic Energy
Eight people were hospitalised as a result of radiation exposure, where one later died.
West Delhi
West Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India.West Delhi is bound by the districts of North West Delhi to the north, North Delhi and Central Delhi to the east, South West Delhi to the south, and Jhajjar District of Haryana state to the west.West Delhi...
. It used to be a major hub of small scale industries, but following recent government sanctions, most of the heavy metal industries moved out. The place is now a combination of residential flats (DDA and private), light metal factories and automobile service stations.
The area is mostly residential now, with major localities built by the Delhi Development Authority
Delhi Development Authority
The Delhi Development Authority was created in 1955 under the provisions of the Delhi Development Act "to promote and secure the development of Delhi".-History:...
(DDA). These include Hari Enclave, Vikrant Enclave, MIG Flats and Maya Enclave. There are some major landmarks in this area like the Food Corporation of India, Metal Forging, New Era Public School
New Era Public School
New Era Public School, India, was founded in 1960 by the New Era Education Society. The project of Mr. R.L.Chopra and Mrs. Usha Chopra came into existence in one room, in 1965....
and Din Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. Mayapuri is also one of the major bus terminals for the Delhi Transport Corporation
Delhi Transport Corporation
Delhi Transport Corporation is the main public transport operator of Delhi. It operates buses on many bus routes, including the mudrika and Bahri Mudrika . It is the largest CNG-powered bus service operator in the world. DTC is operating Interstate Services in 6 states viz...
(DTC).
Mayapuri radiological accident
In April 2010, the locality of Mayapuri was affected by a serious radiological accident. An AECLAECL
AECL is an acronym that can stand for:*Advanced Electronics Company Limited*Atomic Energy of Canada Limited*Australian Egg Corporation Limited...
Gammacell 220 research irradiator owned by Delhi University since 1968, but unused since 1985, was sold at auction to a scrap metal dealer in Mayapuri on February 26, 2010. The orphan source
Orphan source
An orphan source is a self-contained radioactive source that is no longer under proper regulatory control.The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission defines an orphan source more exactly as:...
arrived at Deepak Jain' scrap yard in Mayapuri during March, where it was dismantled by workers unaware of the hazardous nature of the device. The cobalt-60
Cobalt-60
Cobalt-60, , is a synthetic radioactive isotope of cobalt. Due to its half-life of 5.27 years, is not found in nature. It is produced artificially by neutron activation of . decays by beta decay to the stable isotope nickel-60...
source was cut into eleven pieces. The smallest of the fragments was taken by Ajay Jain (no relation to Deepak Jain), who kept it in his wallet, two fragments were moved to a nearby shop, while the remaining eight remained in the scrap yard. All of the sources were recovered by mid-April and transported to the Narora Atomic Power Station
Narora Atomic Power Station
Narora Atomic Power Station is located in Bulandshahar District in Uttar Pradesh, India.-Description:Commercial operation of unit 1 began on January 1, 1991. Unit 2 began commercial operation on July 1, 1992. Each unit has a capacity of 220 MWe. The plant is situated on the bank of the river...
, where it was confirmed that all radioactive material originally contained within the device was accounted for. The material remains in the custody of the Department of Atomic Energy
Department of Atomic Energy (India)
The Department of Atomic Energy is a department directly under the Prime Minister of India with headquartered in Mumbai. The department is responsible for nuclear technology, including nuclear power and research....
Eight people were hospitalised as a result of radiation exposure, where one later died.
Metal recycling activities
One of the main business at Mayapuri is the recycling of metal scraps and sale of salvage vehicle parts. It is, arguably, the biggest market for used automotive and industrial spare parts in India. Many traders from all over India come here to sell/ purchase old auto parts. Many small workshops specialised in different metals are active in the Mayapuri area. The safety of the scrap yards became a concern after the radiological accident which occurred in April 2010. The area is not equipped with radiation detectors or portics, despite being a common practice in steel recycling factories in the US and in most of the European countries. The presence of toxic heavy metals and of harmful chemicals in the waste generated by these activities presents a direct menace for the health of several ten thousands of people living in the area.Major landmarks
Mayapuri is home to the following key landmarks:- Din Dayal Upadhyay Hospital
- New Era Public SchoolNew Era Public SchoolNew Era Public School, India, was founded in 1960 by the New Era Education Society. The project of Mr. R.L.Chopra and Mrs. Usha Chopra came into existence in one room, in 1965....
- Metal Forging
- Food Corporation of IndiaFood Corporation of IndiaFood Corporation of India was setup on 14th January 1965 having its first District Office at Thanjavur - rice bowl of Tamil Nadu - and headquarters at Chennai under the Food Corporations Act 1964 to implement the following objectives of the National Food Policy :# Effective price support...
Surrounding areas
Following are some key surrounding areas, some are small localities within Mayapuri.- Subhash Nagar
- Rajouri GardenRajouri GardenRajouri Garden is an upscale residential neighborhood in West Delhi, India. Located in West Delhi, its population includes a heavy majority of Punjabi Hindus and Sikhs...
- Hari Nagar
- Tilak NagarTilak NagarTilak Nagar , Delhi is one of the suburban areas in West Delhi. It is approximately seventeen kilometers from the New Delhi Railway Station and twenty-two kilometers from the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Tilak Nagar is connected by the Delhi Metro to Connaught Place, making it easy for...
- Tihar VillageTihar VillageTihar Village is one of the oldest villages in Delhi. It has been dominated by Taga,_Tyagi since the time of British rule.since british rule four migrant village arised Titar pur,Nagli jhalib,Keshopur And Choukhandi....
- Delhi Cantt
- IARI or PusaPusaPusa is a genus of the earless seals, within the Family Phocidae. The three species of this genus were split from the genus Phoca, and some sources still give Phoca as an acceptable synonym for Pusa....
- Shadipur DepotShadipur DepotShadipur Depot is a residential and industrial area in West Delhi, named after nearby Shadipur settlement. This is also a depot for the Delhi Transport Corporation...
- Patel NagarPatel NagarPatel Nagar is a place in West Delhi and it is the subdivision of West Delhi District as like other subdivisions Rajouri Garden and Punjabi Bagh.-Area:Patel Nagar is a large area and divided in some colonies like:*West Patel Nagar...
See also
- Acerinox accidentAcerinox accidentThe Acerinox accident was an incident of radioactive contamination in Southern Spain. In May 1998, a caesium-137 source managed to pass through the monitoring equipment in a Acerinox scrap metal reprocessing plant in Los Barrios, Spain. When melted, the caesium-137 caused the release of a...
- Goiânia accidentGoiânia accidentThe Goiânia accident was a radioactive contamination accident that occurred on September 13, 1987, at Goiânia, in the Brazilian State of Goiás after an old radiotherapy source was taken from an abandoned hospital site in the city...
- List of civilian radiation accidents
- Orphan sourceOrphan sourceAn orphan source is a self-contained radioactive source that is no longer under proper regulatory control.The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission defines an orphan source more exactly as:...
- Radiation accident in Mexico CityRadiation accident in Mexico CityIn 1962, a radiation accident in Mexico City occurred where four people died from overexposure to radiation from a Co-60 capsule. Five other individuals also received significant overdoses of radiation.-See also:*Nuclear and radiation accidents...
- Radioactive scrap metalRadioactive scrap metalRadioactive scrap metal is the situation when radioactive material enters the metal recycling process and contaminates scrap metal.- Overview :...