The Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) has issued notices to 17 medical institutions for their improper handling of bio medical waste generated from their premises.
The notices were issued under the Bio Medical Waste (Management and Handling) rules 1998 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.According to sources, the Board has warned these institutions of strict action if they do not comply with the rules in future.According to a press release issued by the Board here on Thursday, the Union Environment and Forest Ministry had issued notification under the Bio Medical Waste (Management and Handling) rules 1998 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 for the proper management and handling of the hospital wastes, which comes under the bio medical waste category.
Under this rule, it is the responsibility of all the hospitals, nursing homes, pathological labs etc of the safe handling and disposal of the bio medical wastes of their respective institutions, as these wastes create serious environmental challenges and health problems. This rule is applicable to all those persons who produce, store, transport, treat, dispose off or handle bio medical wastes.
Under the rule, it is mandatory for all such hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensary and pathological labs etc that treat 1,000 or more patients every month to take permission from the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board and from time to time get renewal of the permission.According to the sources, the Board has given permission under this rule to all the 515 medical institutions of the State.The Board has made bio medical waste treatment facility available at five places in the State namely Bhilai-Durg, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, Korba and Raigarh.
Incinerator has been installed in Bhilai-Durg Treatment Centre and in other places, wastes are disposed off through deep burial system.The Board not only keeps vigil on the proper disposal of bio medical wastes of the hospitals, but also monitors the institutions providing joint treatment facility.