The Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) has slapped notices on 18 medical institutions so far, including hospitals and nursing homes, for ignoring the rules for disposal of bio-medical waste, the Board said in a press release issued on Saturday.
The medical institutions which have been served notices include even some prominent names such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Hospital, Raipur, Shrishti Institute of Medical Science & Research Centre-Korba, Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS)- Bilaspur and Mission Hospital-Bilaspur, it said. Similarly, notices have also been served on the District Hospital at Dhamtari, Indira Gandhi District Hospital-Korba and Agrawal Nursing Home at Samata colony in Raipur, the Board said.
The CECB said it will continue to take action against medical institutions which have been violating Bio Medical Waste (Management and Handling) rules 1998 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986. The Board is not only examining the bio waste handling facilities available with medical institutions but also those offering common waste treatment facilities , it said.
The CECB had been carrying out inspections to identify medical institutions which are scientifically treating their bio medical waste or not, it said. The Board has identified 515 medical institutions including hospitals, nursing homes and pathological laboratories and brought them under the purview of the law, it said. The CECB wants to ensure that all these institutions strictly follow the rules and manage their bio medical waste properly, the Board said.