Alarming levels of radioactive contamination in imported scrap to India
More than 50% of the total 123 shipments of contaminated steel is from India. The 67 shipments from India were denied entry into European and US ports. The reason, contamination of Cobalt-60 in the finished products such as stainless steel bars, Manholes, Motor Cycle handle bars etc. So what is the cause for the contamination of Cobalt-60 and what harm can it cause? 
The answer lies in our poor and corrupt regulatory measures in import of scrap metal. We import a lot of hazardous radioactive scrap metal into India considering the cheap rates. Our harbors do not have a proper regulation on hazardous material or turn a blind eye to it. India is becoming a dumping ground for the developed nations including Japan who tries to dump the e-waste here.
It is just a tip of iceberg. If the finished products had a radioactive hazard, think of the raw scrap and the workers who process the scrap. Only a bare minimum of these finished products are exported. The major portion of the recycled scrap is used in India. Of course Cobalt-60 is not categorized extremely radioactive but it still emits gamma rays which can cause cancer. It takes about 5.27 years to for cobalt 60 to lose its radioactivity to 50%. So calculate how long it will take to completely lose its radioactivity and become stable nickel.
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) confirms that the cause for the radiation of finished products in India is due to the import of hazardous materials. It also insists that every importer of metal scrap in India should obtain a certificate from the exporting country that the scrap is free from radioactivity. A multilayer radiation check system proposed by AERB should be followed to prevent the import and export of radioactive contaminated material.
It is time we take strict action on any hazardous imports no matter how profitable they are. Like the Chinese government we too should punish those who are knowingly involved in this. There were rumors last year that the highly radioactive Chernobyl scrap was shipped to Asia but we do not have any substantial evidence on that. Hope the Indian government and the harbors look into this issue and take immediate action.