Pollution board finds biomedical waste mixed with general trash

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), inspected Rajendra Hospital on dumping of bio-medical hospital and found major irregularities in its operations.

During inspection, PPCB found used syringes, operational and surgical waste, bottles, gloves and surgical items dumped with general waste. The SDO asked to segregate the biomedical waste and send it to the biomedical-waste treatment plant. Ironically, the said plant is located at the hospital itself.

The biomedical waste, especially used syringes were dumped along with general waste and it was violation of norms. A few meters away from the dumped site, there is a Drug Rehabilitation Centre.

Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) Vinod Dangwal said, biomedical waste was dumped by surrounding health centres of Rajindra Hospital. “This waste is dumped by various health centres near the hospital during night. We have done nothing wrong.”

The hospital’s false claims were exposed after PPCB asked the sanitation depart to open one of the sanitation packets. Sanitation head of Rajendra Hospital, said the CCTVs are to be installed at dumping sites to identify the people who dump biomedical waste along with general waste. The sub division officer of Punjab pollution control board We are issuing a notice to the hospital to explain the incident. The action and penalty will be decided by the higher authorities.