Bio-Medical Waste

All over the country states have established common bio-medical waste treatment plants that scientifically dispose off the bio-medical waste which is considered very dangerous for health if not treated in proper way. We have several medical colleges and hospitals in the State. There is huge bio-medical waste coming out of them. Additionally, we have innumerable clinics and labs which also produce fair quantity of bio-medical waste. How it is disposed of and what should be the long range policy of treating this waste so that it does not become source of health hazard.
This question came before the Legislative Assembly some years back. State Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Environment took up this vital issue and twice made strong recommendation to the Department of Health and Medical Education to establish Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility one each in Jammu and Kashmir. This plant would take care of all the bio-medical waste and there would not be any need for individual and smaller plants which are neither dependable nor satisfactory. We all know that there is sharp rise in the generation of bio-medical waste because a large number of private medical units besides Government medical institutions have come up in recent years. At present two private units, one at Pathankote  and the other at Lassipora in Kashmir valley are handling the bio-waste. The Pathankote  plant is treating the bio-medical waste produced in Jammu and the Lassipora plant takes care of the waste produced in Kashmir. These are privately run plants and the Health Department has to pay the charges for treating the waste scientifically. However, the capacity of these privately runs plants are a moot point.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare took cognizance of the lack of common disposal plant in the State and offered support to the tune of 7 crore rupees for installing two plants one each in Srinagar and Jammu for the year 2013-14 under the National Health Mission (NHM) scheme. In pursuance of the offer made by the Centre, the State Health Department made exercise for identifying the land where the plant would be set up. Health Department identified Bajalta and Kanachak in Jammu and Lasjan, Rakhi-a-Arth, Sheikhpora and Zewan in Kashmir valley where the plants could be set up. However, the Health Department could not obtain clearance of these sites by the State Pollution Control Board. Why clearance could not be obtained is a matter on which the State Pollution Control Board can deliver judgment and therefore, we do not go into that discussion. But the question is that why the exercise of identifying land for the plants should come to a final stop and let the matter die down. Is that the solution of the issue of treating the bio-chemical waste? The Health Department is immune to the reports of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly. Non-serious attitude of the authorities at the Health Department towards the recommendations of the Environment Committee of the legislature is deeply regretted by the Committee members. Their contention is that according to the view of the Chairman PCB if a plant is established 150 kilometers away from the city, it would take 4 to 5 hours to carry the waste to the plant for disposal. This means that even if the plant is established at a distance of 150 kilometers away from the capital city that would not be a big hazard to carry the waste and get it disposed of. The question is that there is lack of will and initiative with the Department of Health to find a solution to the problem. If it were the problem of funding, the matter would be different. This is an example of sheer lack of interest and also dereliction of duty. The Environment Committee of the State Legislature had fixed the time schedule for implementing the plan and had also asked the Commissioner/ Secretary Health Department to fix the responsibility for non performance and take action against the defaulters. But it appears that there is absolutely no impact of the recommendations of the Committee and no action has been taken. This is a serious matter and the higher authorities shall have to consider why there is something like defiant attitude of responsible officials towards implementing important projects in the State. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that development of the State is not obstructed by any quarter.

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