Measures in place to regulate biomedical waste disposal

Hospitals under scanner amidst increase in the quantity of biomedical wastes
Biomedical waste disposal | File Photo
Biomedical waste disposal | File Photo

CHENNAI:After having found several hospitals in the city understating the quantum of biomedical waste generated, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) is introducing several measures that will ensure that  hospitals in the State comply with Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016.

 Zonal Level Working Committees, headed by Joint Chief Environmental Engineer (Monitoring), has been constituted in Chennai, Vellore, Tiruchy, Coimbatore and Madurai zones to keep a close watch on every detail like disinfectant records, pretreatment of liquid waste, maintaining proper records on disposal of biomedical waste, said Selvan, Joint Chief Environmental Engineer, TNPCB, in an affidavit submitted before the southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday.

The pollution control board has also ordered all  hospitals to furnish details of the quantum of biomedical waste disposed to the Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) in their website on a daily basis.

Besides, the CBWTFs - GJ Multiclave  Private Limited and Tamil Nadu Waste Management Limited - will also introduce bar coding system for biomedical bags by March covering all the hospitals. This was decided during a meeting chaired by TNPCB chairman in consultation with the Director of Medical Education (DME), State president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and with the representatives of major hospitals, the official said.

Meanwhile, Karung Kalikambal Enterprises, the unauthorised third party to whom a leading city hospital allegedly sold the biomedical waste for monetary gain and reportedly purchased infectious biomedical waste from other hospitals, remains absconding. The enterprise has vacated the premises at Tondiarpet. Selvan said the board has filed a criminal complaint  against the enterprise in H3 police station to trace the whereabouts of the proprietor and also written to Greater Chennai Corporation to cancel the trade licence, if any, obtained by Karung Kalikambal Enterprises.

The bench, comprising Justice P Jyothimani and expert member PS Rao, adjourned the case to March 15.
Kerala too facing trouble

Another NGT bench headed by Justice MS Nambiar has initiated suo motto proceedings on the way biomedical waste is disposed in Kerala. The bench has issued notices to Kerala government, Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and other authorities concerned.

The notices were issued based on a report submitted by KSPCB on Feb 3. The report said that only three bio-medical waste facilities are proposed in Kerala, at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. VK Reema Smriti, counsel for KSPCB, told Express that in Kerala, at present, there is only one common biomedical waste treatment facility in Palakkad.

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