The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued a show cause notice to the Dean and Medical Superintendent of the Goa Medical College and Hospital on June 6, for operating the health-care establishment in a manner that amounts to gross violation of the Biomedical Waste Rules and the Environment (Protection) Act.”
The Dean and Medical Superintendent of the GMC has been given seven days time to respond to the show cause notice, which expires on June 13.The notice follows a damning report filed by GSPCB after a site inspection carried out by its scientists found gross violations of various acts by the Goa Medical College. A complaint about the violations was filed by the Goa Consumer Action Network (GOACAN).“The observations indicated that the GMC is being operated in a manner that amounts to gross violation of the provisions of the Biomedical Waste Rules, 1998 and as such is contravening the provision of the Environment Protection Act. Such operation of the GMC is causing severe environmental pollution in the vicinity as also grave health hazards in the area,” the GSPCB has stated in its report.
The board has stated that if GMC fails to comply with the directions or gives satisfactory explanation, it would initiate legal action under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.GMC has been burning bio-medical waste at the abandoned quarry just outside the Yatri Niwas, for many years without finding a long term solution for proper disposal of its bio-medical waste.
GSPCB observations
- Bio-medical waste including contaminated cotton waste, IV tubes, syringes and unsegregated biodegradagble and non-biodegradable waste was seen being burnt in a quarry located within the GMC premises.
- The GMC is not following the stipulated bio-medical waste treatment and disposal methods as contained in Schedule I of the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998.
- The GMC does not have valid authorisation from the Board nor its consent as required under the Bio-Medical Waste Rules, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Courtesy: Herald
