MARGAO
With the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) notifying common bio-medical waste disposal facility at Kundaim Industrial estate, Ponda, health care facilities have come under the radar of the Margao Municipal council.
In fact, the MMC has directed all health care facilities in the commercial capital to dispose of their bio-medical waste at Kundaim through Ms Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt Ltd.
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes said the waste should be handed over to the collection agency as per the Bio-Medical Waste 2016 Rules. He said the Civic body will hereafter only collect dry waste after scrutiny as it is observed that bio-medical waste is found mixed with dry waste collected from medical institutes/Health Care Facilities in the Municipal jurisdiction.
Saying that Bio Medical Waste generated from Health Care Facilities ie Hospitals, Medical Clinics, Medical laboratories, Veterinary clinics and Diagnostic Centres operating within the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal Council are not Scientifically disposing their Bio-Medical Waste generated as per the Bio-Medical Waste 2016 Rules, the Chief Officer said this has resulted in several incidences wherein the medical waste generated by such Health Care Facilities was noticed thrown around waste bins and other open areas thereby creating health and garbage hazards and getting mixed into the Municipal Solid Waste.
“Earlier, since there was no Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility in the State and in view to limit the health hazard and garbage menace, municipal body would collect waste from such Health Care Facilities. Now a designated Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTF) is set up
at plot No. BW-1 in Kundaim IDC, M/s Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt Ltd”, he said.
The Chief Officer pointed out that the Directorate of Municipal Administration and the Goa State Pollution Board have instructed this council to strictly monitor and report any such incidences of mishandling of biomedical waste by Health care facilities. Strict penalties may be laid upon institutes found flouting the guidelines, he warned, adding “those who have not been following the medical waste disposal guidelines are hereby, notified to strictly adhere to the laid down rules, failing which there will be strict action taken on those who are found flouting the Bio-medical Rules and Guidelines”.
He said the MMC has received several complaints from concerned citizens about the above subject and will begin strictly monitoring the same from today.
The MMC had recently imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on a health care facility after syringes were found in the garbage bins.
MARGAO: The GSPCB has issued a circular calling upon all health care facilities generating biomedical waste to dispose the biomedical waste through the facility at Ms Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt Ltd, Plot No BW-1, Kundaim Industrial Estate, Ponda.
In a circular, GSPCB Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro reminded the biomedical waste generating healthcare facilities mandating them to dispose of the bio-medical waste as per the Bio-medical waste Management Rules, 2016 as amended.
“The GSPCB has considered the application submitted by Ms Biotic Waste Solutions for obtaining the biomedical waste authorization and consent to operate for the operation of common biomedical waste treatment & disposal facility. Accordingly, the GSPCB has granted authorization to Ms Biotic Waste Solutions and consent to operate the facility”, the circular stated, adding that the facility for common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facility for disposal of biomedical waste is commissioned within the state at Plot No BW-1, Kundaim Industrial Estate, Ponda.
