Ranchi: Afraid of radioactive therapy causing harm in the neighbourhood, some residents of Harmu Housing Colony here have taken to Gandhigiri to demand shifting of the newly inaugurated cancer hospital despite the authorities attempt to dispel the fear.

"We believe in Gandhigiri. We are lighting candles near the hospital and beating steel plates as cymbals in protest against the cancer hospital being constructed in the neighbourhood," colony resident, S B Sahay, told newsmen here.

Apprehending that the radioactive therapy would cause harm to the residents, Sahay, an engineer by profession, said such a healthcare facility would also disrupt the peace of the quiet neighbourhood.

The residents have already taken up the matter before Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda.

Dispelling fears of protestors, the management of the Suvah Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital inaugurated on November 22, said cancer was not contagious.

One of the trustees, Subhas Teterwe, said the hospital is housed in a rented building and the radioactive therapy would start only after securing permission from the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre.

"The therapy location will be 10 km away from the residential colony while the bio-medical waste disposal will be handled by a professional company, 15-kms from the colony," Teterwe reasoned.

Source : PTI