Statement  by Mr. Srinivas Prasad, Minister, on agenda item 48 ‘Effects of Atomic Radiation’ at the Fourth Committee of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on October  24, 2014

Mr. Chairman,

  I would like to congratulate you, on behalf of my delegation on your election as Chairman of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee to the 69th General Assembly. I wish you all the very best and assure you of my country’s continued co-operation and support.

  India is happy to support and co-sponsor the resolution of the 69th UNGA on the effects of Atomic Radiation, sponsored by Australia based on the Report to the General assembly from the United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). During the 61st session of the Scientific Committee held in July, 2014, at Vienna, a three member Indian delegation led by Dr S.K. Apte, Director, Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai had actively participated and articulated the Indian position on the scientific issues involved in the subjects under consideration of the Committee.

Mr. Chairman,

  India is very happy to note that two substantive reports have been published by UNSCEAR since the previous session on (1) the assessment of the levels and effects of radiation exposure due to nuclear accident after the 2011 east-Japan earthquake and tsunami, and (2) effects of radiation exposure of children. It is very reassuring to note that in the assessment of the Committee there were no significant health effects observed in the exposed population so far.

  The Committee adopted new Governing Principles for its work which recapitulated the mandate of the committee. It also adopted new terms of reference for its executive, decided to increase the number of Vice-Chairs and to postpone the election of officers for the 62nd and 63rd sessions until next year.

Mr. Chairman,

The Committee discussed two draft scientific annexes on (1) evaluation of radiation exposures from electricity generation, and (2) updating the methodology for estimating human exposures due to radioactive discharges into the environment.  India had expressed several concerns about the large gaps in information and erroneous methods of estimating exposures based on some generic assumptions which are not globally applicable.  Our concerns and suggestions in this regard have been communicated in writing to the secretariat with a request to address and accommodate them during the revision of the document.

  The Committee discussed progress on evaluations of the biological effects of exposure to selected internal emitters, tritium and uranium. India supports the idea of conducting similar evaluations for caesium and iodine in the light of Fukushima type incidents.  We look forward to receiving an updated and revised version of these and the two documents mentioned above in item 3 for approval at the 62nd session of UNSCEAR.

Mr Chairman,

  India is also very happy to note the Committee’s new efforts (a) to develop an evaluation of medical exposure and (b) on the outreach activities. India also endorses the view that a thorough review of the effects of radiation exposure on children post-Fukushima should get the highest priority in future programmes.

  Once again, as a founder member of UNSCEAR, India is proud to be associated with its deliberations and wholeheartedly recommends adoption of the resolution on ‘Effects of Atomic Radiation’ submitted to UNGA.

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