Pollution panel gives clinics 15 days

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12

Over 100 clinics and pathology and blood bank centres in the city have been served final notices by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) to get the authorisation certificate from the committee within 15 days or face action.

Sources said in case the clinics failed to get the certificate within the stipulated time, the CPCC would start sealing these after August 30.

As per Rule 10 of the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, “every occupier” of the operator handling the bio-medical waste, irrespective of the quantity, shall make an application for the authorisation certificate. The certificate will be issued only if the committee is satisfied.

In the notice, the CPCC said in case the clinics failed to get the certificate, the committee would seal these with immediate effect and the authorities concerned would disconnect the water and electricity connections.

During its recent inspections, the panel found a number of hospitals and clinics violating the rules pertaining to the segregation, storage, transport, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.

Should be segregated at source

As per the rules, hazardous bio-medical waste, plastic and biodegradable waste should be segregated in three different containers or bags of different colours at the generation point itself. The containers should be properly labelled. It is also mandatory to install facilities such as incinerator, autoclave and microwave system for burning hazardous waste and also ensure that the waste is chemically treated at a common waste treatment facility.

e-Waste: Notices to bulk users 

• The CPCC has also decided to act tough on those who violate the e-Waste Management Rules, 2016.
• Sources said the committee had sent notices to “bulk users” asking them to maintain records of the total e-waste collected, dismantled and the material recovered or recycled.