Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Notice

The Thiruvananthapuram medical college has recently been served a notice from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) for dumping the biomedical waste on the college premises instead of arranging a way of scientific disposal.

The step was taken by the board after they received several complaints from the nearby residents alleging that biomedical waste is being accumulated in open spaces inside the campus which include syringes, blood-stained cotton and bandages.

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The board decided to warn the authorities after they found a huge pile of biomedical waste lying open on the premises.

Pradeep Kumar A B, chairman of KSPCB told The New Indian Express, "We have already warned the hospital authorities regarding this. Many such incidents have been reported from other hospitals. Strict action will be taken against healthcare institutions found to be violating the rules." However, the Medical College has not given any confirmation regarding the steps taken by the KSPCB.

After stating that the board has seen many hospitals that unscientifically dispose of biomedical waste, leading to pollution, Mr. Kumar also stated that some other hospitals burn it openly as well. Others were also found to temporarily landfill the accumulated waste.

"The Bio-medical Waste Management Rule of 2016 restricts the occupier from establishing an on-site or captive biomedical waste treatment and disposal facility if a common biomedical facility is available within a distance of 75 km. This is because it requires trained, skilled manpower for proper operation and maintenance of treatment systems with minimal impact on human health and environment", he further added.

Unscientific disposal of biomedical waste has been a nuisance for the authorities in the state, especially during the pandemic because these wastes can pose a great threat to public health. As COVID is contagious, to ensure that it is not spread through open biomedical waste, KSPCB had made even stricter rules for collecting biomedical garbage from hospitals and quarantine centres. They have reduced disposal hours from 48 to 24.

"We are strictly monitoring the waste management activities of hospitals and other healthcare facilities," said Sindhu Radhakrishnan, chief environmental engineer, KSPCB, Thiruvananthapuram told the daily.

The KSPCB official confirmed that currently, there is just one active biomedical waste treatment facility in the state, situated at Palakkad and managed by IMAGE (IMA- Goes Eco-friendly) under the Indian Medical Association. The plant has a total capacity of 40 tonnes.

"The pandemic brought in the need for additional incinerators, thereby increasing the capacity to 60 tonnes. Although instances of illegal biomedical waste disposal were reported during the pandemic, we were able to segregate and scientifically dispose of biomedical waste better as compared to our neighbouring states," said the official.

The KSPCB official stated that a new biomedical waste treatment plant has been proposed in Brahmapuram, Kochi and it will be commissioned by March. This will help in handling the increasing amount of biomedical waste amidst the pandemic and in solving the management issues related to it. "Installing common biomedical waste facilities in different parts of the state is also in the pipeline," said the official.

According to the daily, Premalatha S, environmental engineer informed that Central Pollution Control Board is also working on a Covid-19 waste tracking application 'COVID19BWM' that will help to keep track of Covid-related biomedical waste. It is regulated by SPCB. Between May 2020 and February 9, 2021, almost 4,186 tonnes of Covid biomedical waste was incinerated in the state. Around 15 tonnes of Covid waste and 35 tonnes of non-Covid waste are collected daily while 55 tonnes of biomedical waste is being collected every day.