The Hindu 04.05.2010
Need for new bio-medical waste disposal guidelines
Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has urged the States of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to pool their resources to draft bio-medical waste disposal guidelines.
According to ASSOCHAM, Delhi and the National Capital Region collectively generate over 3,400 tonnes of medical waste annually, most of which remains untreated and dumped with municipal waste causing a serious health and environment hazard. As per its estimates, Delhi's share is roughly about 1,100 tonnes while Noida and Greater Noida produce 800 tonnes, Gurgaon 600 tonnes, Ghaziabad 489 tonnes and Faridabad 425 tonnes.
According to ASSOCHAM, though these places provide the best medical facilities, disposal of medical waste hardly exists and thus policy guidelines are needed to ensure that not only government-owned hospitals but also nursing homes and diagnostic centres at such places are provided with mandatory guidelines for safer disposal of their waste to ensure public health and safety of the environment.
In a representation to the Chief Ministers of Delhi, Haryana and U.P., it has recommended that the three States get together and identify places for setting up of bio-medical treatment plants for disposal of medical wastes.
ASSOCHAM Secretary-General D. S. Rawat said: “Delhi and NCR at present have only four to five bio-medical waste treatment facilities which are always over-loaded with such wastes. Waste disposal should be done as per policy guidelines framed by the state governments. The proposed centralised bio-medical treatment plants can be set up by state government initiatives and through public-private partnership mode.”
