PPCB slaps Rs 10 lakh fine on Fortis Hospital

Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 12

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Fortis Hospital at Phase 8 here for violation of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The hospital has been directed to deposit the fine in the account of the Environmental Engineer, PPCB, immediately.

Kahan Singh Pannu, Chairman of the PPCB, also ordered the hospital authorities to suspend their housekeeping in-charge, Rajesh Sharma, and take suitable action against him after an inquiry.

The order stated that his (Rajesh Sharma) conduct should also be probed and if his connivance with the contractor, Karan (responsible for lifting of the waste), was established in the pilferage of bio-medical waste, an FIR should also be lodged against him for negligence in the disposal of waste.

The Chairman also directed termination of the contract of Karan and an lodging of an FIR against him.

“The hospital shall deposit a bank guarantee of Rs 25 lakh with the PPCB as an assurance to ensure compliance of the rules,” the order stated.

The PPCB also directed the hospital to appoint a qualified officer as the in-charge of bio-medical waste, who should get training from the PPCB, and install CCTV cameras in the bio-medical waste and general waste-collection area within seven days to check pilferage of waste from the hospital in the future.  The hospital has also been asked to conduct sampling of ETP-cum-STP from the Punjab Bio-Technology Incubator, Mohali, and submit a report to the PPCB.  On February 2, a team of the PPCB had seized three pickup trucks, carrying nearly 1,000 kg of biomedical waste of Fortis Hospital, Mohali. The trucks were heading for a scrap yard in Dadu Majra. Later, a raid was conducted at the scrap yard from where segregated biomedical waste was recovered. The PPCB team had initiated an investigation against four persons — three pickup truck drivers and the scrap dealer — and the hospital.