MARGAO
In a development that will streamline disposal of Covid biomedical waste, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued authorisation to the South Goa district Collector for operating a facility for the storage, transport and disposal of the biomedical waste.
The GSPCB authorisation has permitted the district Collector, Ajit Roy, the Covid biomedical waste in temporary intermediate storage facility at the Margao industrial estate, with a condition that the waste is disposed of by an authorised agency within 48 hours.
The GSPCB has issued a host of conditions while issuing the authorisation for the storage of the Covid biomedical waste, including specific conditions that the storage facility has to be utilised only for biomedical waste generated from Covid care centres and Covid hospitals.
Moreover, the GSPCB has mandated that the biomedical waste should not be stored for more than 48 hours without any treatment, mandating the agency to dispose of the waste scientifically within 48 hours.
The authorisation has mandated the applicant to install an autoclave and disinfection facility at the site for the storage beyond 48 hours or for processing the waste. The installation of the same has to be intimated to the Board within 15 days on receipt of the authorisation.
That’s not all. Amongst other specific conditions, the collection and transportation of the BMW from Covid centres and hospital has to be carried out by the appointed agency only.
Logbooks of the waste received in shed and quantity discharged to treatment and disposal has to be maintained and details to be submitted to the GSPCB regularly.
The authorisation given to the South district Collector should hopefully put to rest the issue over the disposal of Covid biomedical waste generated in Margao and neighbouring areas. For, the Margao Municipal Council and other bodies have been facing difficulties in the disposal of the Covid biomedical waste collected from hospitals and care centres, besides from homes of home quarantine persons.
Last month, a MMC vehicle had to return back from the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim after the incinerator treating biomedical waste broke down. The accumulated biomedical waste is still lying at Sonsodo, with MMC officials now saying the agency-appointed by the Collector will now lift away the biomedical waste.
