IAEA´s call to Nepal for membership came at the end of a fact-finding mission, which visited Nepal from October 19-23. The mission´s visit was followed by the first-ever visit of IAEA Director General Dr Mohamed Elbaradei to Nepal in September, said Science Secretary Dr Ram Hari Aryal.
“The law and regulations should be enforced as soon as possible,” IAEA said in its preliminary report submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology.
As of today, there is no legislation and regulation to oversee nuclear activities, including licensing and inspecting.
IAEA can help Nepal in many areas of development like health, agriculture and energy if it enacts nuclear law. Besides, IAEA will not be authorized to provide Nepal with radioactive sources for medical and other purposes till it enforces nuclear laws.
Meanwhile, the three-member mission also expressed concern over safety of radioactive elements used by different cancer hospitals, said a government official who worked with the mission during the visit.
Nepal currently lacks mechanism to notify any nuclear accident to IAEA though it is required to have such mechanism as a member state. Nepal became IAEA member in August, 2008 but it is yet to prepare itself for the obligations as a member state.
Secretary Aryal said that Nepal can benefit from the IAEA in different areas of development as IAEA works with its members states and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies.
kiran@myrepublica.com
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