Notice to 21 institutions for violating norms

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 23

Keeping a stringent check on proper disposal of bio-medical waste generated in the 764 hospitals and health-care institutions in the state, the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) has issued show-cause notices to 21 institutions for not adhering to norms.

During the past three years, the health-care institutions covered under the ambit of Bio-medical Waste Rules, 1998, have increased from 718 to 764, so has the corresponding waste generation from 1.47 to 2.05 tonnes per day.

The state Pollution Control Board is organising a workshop to sensitise the stakeholder institutions here on October 24.

To ensure proper disposal of bio-medical waste, the board has authorised two common bio-medical waste disposal facilities at Kullu and Solan and three captive incineration facilities in Himachal.

Besides this, the bio-medical waste disposal facilities at Pathankot in Punjab cater to the Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and Chamba region. In these facilities, 1,101 kg per day of bio-medical waste is being disposed of through the process of incineration and 149 kg per day by deep burial methods. The remaining 800 kg per day is recyclable waste (plastic/metal).

To keep strict vigil on air emissions in the common bio-medical waste disposal facility, the state board has installed online emission monitoring systems in both common bio-medical waste treatment facilities (CBWTF) and linked authorised transporters of the waste through GPS system for better co-ordination and movement-tracking.

The new regulation recommends stringent monitoring to ensure compliance and is applicable to all persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose or handle bio-medical waste in any form.