Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 23: In a testimony of thrust areas getting raw deal, the State Government has failed to make any progress about setting up of two bio-medical waste management projects in the capital cities and incinerator facilities at four other districts, which were announced by none else than the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah in the year 2012.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that during meeting with the Planning Commission on the finalization of State’s Annual Plan for the 2012-13 financial year on July 13, 2012, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had announced that installation of bio-medical waste treatment facility in the districts of Jammu and Srinagar was under process.
Thereafter, on September 3, 2012, the Chief Minister, while chairing a meeting of the Health and Medical Education Department, approved setting up of two bio-medical waste management projects in Jammu and Srinagar apart from incinerators facilities in the districts of Leh, Kargil, Doda and Poonch to treat bio-medical waste generated in the health units situated in the far off areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Leh and Kargil.
In the meeting, Mr Omar stated that Rs 7.40 crore worth projects will cater to the disposal of bio-medical waste generated in hospitals within 150 kilometer status in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu, sources said.
While underlining importance of proper and scientific disposal of waste generated in various hospitals and health units, the Chief Minister had stated that this should be the thrust area for the Health and Medical Education Department, they said, adding during the meeting direction was passed to the concerned authorities for early identification of feasible sites for establishment of such projects. Moreover, Health Department was asked to formulate a team of officers from the departments of health, revenue and Pollution Control Board for the purpose.
“However, during the past over one and half year, this vital announcement is gathering dust with no progress on establishment of the projects and incinerator facilities”, sources regretted, adding “this thrust area has virtually been treated in most non-serious manner which is evident from the fact that even suitable land could not be finalized for these projects till date”.
They further said, “the casual approach towards this vital subject is notwithstanding the fact that hospital waste can cause serious health hazards like spread of HIV infection, Hepatitis B and C etc”, adding “management of hospital waste is imperative because the risk factor associated with this extends beyond the boundaries of the medical establishments to the general population and to the environment”.
It is pertinent to mention here that at present there is no scientific bio-medical waste management project in the Government sector in Jammu and Kashmir and incinerators, which are being used in the Government sector like the one in Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu, are not recommended under the latest rules governing the field worldwide.
When contacted, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr Baljit Pathania confirmed that land for the establishment of bio-medical waste management project has not been finalized till date. “We had identified land at different places but the same didn’t receive the clearance of Pollution Control Board because of not being in conformity with the rules governing the field”, he informed.
“Now, we have identified one more chunk of land near Bajalta and the relevant documents have been furnished to the Pollution Control Board for approval, which is awaited”, Dr Pathania said in response to a question.
About the incinerators at Rajouri and Doda, the Director Health Services said, “the same are not recommended during the present scenario. Moreover, there is a complete ban from the Supreme Court on establishing this facility for being unsafe for the human beings”, adding “we are now working on waste management projects for these districts too”.
Similarly, a senior officer of the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir confirmed that land could not be identified for bio-medical waste management project in Srinagar. “As water table is very high in major parts of Srinagar, we are finding it difficult to identify the suitable land”, he added.
“We are not in the favour of establishing incinerators because they generate such gases, which are dangerous for the human beings as such we are working out other projects for Leh and Kargil”, he said while responding to a question.
It is pertinent to mention here that at present bio-medical waste being generated by the hospitals both in the Government and private sectors is being handled by two private companies, which have plants at Pathankote and Lassipora.
“Had there been proper coordination as stressed by the Chief Minister in September 2012 meeting the land issue could have been resolved much earlier and establishment of bio-medical waste management projects would have been started”, sources said, adding “the fate of Chief Minister’s announcement that too on very important subject clearly indicates that coordination between different departments is lacking at the cost of health of human beings”.
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