Srinagar, Nov 6: After busting the racket of unscientific disposal of bio-medical waste, the Jammu and Kashmir State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on Saturday issued notices to the major Government and private hospitals in the Valley asking them to ensure their waste is disposed off scientifically. The Board also threatened legal action, including closure of the health care establishments which violate the rules and pollute the environment. 
 Pertinently, the SPCB on Thursday had busted the racket by seizing a truckload of infections bio-medical waste including used syringes, bandages, drip-sets and surgical gloves collected from various hospitals while it was being unloaded at a scrap dealer establishment at Baba Demb here. The truck belonged to a private concern Kashmir Healthcare Systems which has a common bio-medical waste facility at Lassipora Pulwama and was bound to scientifically treat the medical waste generated from the hospitals which utilize its services.
 In a letter to the 47 hospitals including Government owned SMHS, LD, Chest Disease, Bone and Joint and SKIMS Medical College, the SPCB Regional Director, Kashmir, states “In accordance with Rule 5 (2) of Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998 (Amended 2003), it is mandatory for every occupier to set-up requisite bio-medical waste treatment facilities like incinerator, autoclave, microwave system for the treatment of waste or ensure requisite treatment of waste at a Common Waste Treatment facility or any other treatment facility.”
 The letter states that it has been observed that the bio-medical waste generated is not managed and disposed off in accordance with the (BMW) rules and no proper records regarding quantity of infectious waste and the method of treatment and disposal is being maintained.
 “In case your Health Care Establishment has tied up with any of the Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment facility in the private sector, it is mandatory for you to ensure that the waste collected is actually being disposed off scientifically and in accordance with the BMW rules and does not find its way into any water body or is not illegally sold off to scrap dealers, mixed with municipal solid waste or dumped untreated at public places thereby posing a serious threat to the health of general public and pollution of environment,”  the letter reads.
 “All the Health Care Establishments are advised to pursue BMW rules or else the authorization granted by the J and K SPCB will be withdrawn/cancelled under rules. Defaulters are liable to be prosecuted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 which may include closure of the establishment, fine and imprisonment of 5 years,” it adds.   
 The Minister of Environment and Forests, Mian Altaf said the Government has taken serious note of unscientific disposal of infectious bio-medical waste and started the process to identify and take action against the hospitals which cause environmental pollution.
 “Government is concerned over the unscientific disposal of hospital waste as it can have serious consequences over the health of people. We have sought a comprehensive report from the SPCB and if we find any private or Government hospital resorting to unscientific disposal of medical waste, stringent action under law will be taken against its management,” Altaf told Greater Kashmir. 
 Pertinently, in 2006, the High Court had directed the medical superintendents of all Government hospitals to scientifically dispose off their bio-medical waste and warned them of strict action if the orders were breached.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 7 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST