The Environment Committee of Legislative Assembly led by its Chairman, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and comprising of Legislators Ravinder Raina, Dr Krishan Lal, Abdul Majeed Larmi, Anjum Fazili, Gulzar Ahmed Wani and Kuldeep Raj today visited Samba and inspected facilities for treatment of Bio-Medical Waste generated by the health institutions.The Committee visited M/S Anmol Healthcare Pvt Ltd at Rakh Rara in Vijaypur where biomedical waste from Healthcare facilities (HCFs) of Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Udhampur is sent for disposal.During the visit, the Committee inspected the plant premises and enquired about treatment of water, ash and other products generated during the waste disposal process.The officials of Pollution Control Board informed the Committee that the plant conforms to the latest standards prescribed by JKPCB and is catering to the HCF's falling within 150 kms of its radius. However, the Committee expressed dissatisfaction as no waste management activity was going on at the plant.
GMC authorities were asked to submit report specifying quantity of medical waste generated at the hospital sent for disposal for the last two months. The members expressed apprehensions that non-utilization of facility may be due to disposal of medical waste in an unhealthy manner by HCFs. The PCB was directed to regularly check whether hospitals, private clinics and other facilities were flouting rules in disposal of Bio medical waste and take a more proactive approach.The members called for focus on bio-safety as it’s a preventive concept and any laxity may result in risk of infections and spread of toxic waste causing serious ailments. Later, the committee also visited Emergency Hospital Vijaypur and inspected the facilities there.Member Secretary State Pollution Control Board Sameer Bharti, Director Health Services Jammu Dr Gurjeet Singh, Drugs Controller Lotika Khajuria, Medical Superintendent GMC Jammu Dr Romesh Kumar Gupta, Tehsildar Ramgarh Jai Kumar Sharma and other concerned officers accompanied the committee members during the visit.