Chairman, J&K Pollution Control Board (PCB), Suresh Chugh, today interacted with the Medical Superintendents of various Government hospitals and discussed the status of Bio-Medical Waste management and implementation of the Polluter Pays Principle of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).The Medical Superintendents were apprised about the legal position and the provisions under the Bio Medical Waste Management Rules. They were also directed to implement the Bar Coding so that proper real time tracking of the Bio medical waste collection, transport and disposal is ensured.Instructions were also given to strictly follow the directions of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and NGT in handling the COVID Waste. The Hospital managements were asked to impart proper training to the staff on these issues.The Chairman stressed that all the private and Government hospitals need to strictly follow Bio Medical Waste Rules, 2016 in its true spirit. He said the defaulters in the implementation of the rules have been issued notices for environmental compensation.
He asked the hospitals to immediately install the STPs if they lack the facility or restore the non-functional ones, if any. He said that mixing of Bio Medical Waste with the normal Municipal Solid Waste is hazardous and against the norms of BMWM rules.The Medical Superintendents apprised the Board about certain constraints including technical knowhow, lack of training and utilization of staff in COVID epidemic.The Chairman, PCB decided to give further time to improve upon the Bio Medical Waste Management in these hospitals.The meeting was attended by Brij Mohan Sharma, Member Secretary, Dr. Nadeem Hussain, Regional Director, J.N. Sharma, Env. Engineer, Neelu Sharma, PSO, Incharge Bio Medical Waste, PCB, Sabina Sultan, I/c Scientist C (through Video conferencing), Dr. Yash Paul, Scientist B, PCB.Among the Medical Superintendents were Dr. Dara Singh, MS, Medical College Hospital, Dr. Manoj Chalotra, MS, Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital, Dr. Rajeshwar Sharam, MS, Chest Disease Hospital, Dr. Arun Sharma, MS, Super Speciality Hospital, Dr. Deepak Kumar, Dy. MS, Super Specialty Hospital, Dr. K.B. Sharma, MS, Psychiatric Disease Hospital and Sonia Vaid, Deputy Director, Planning, GMC were present.