International Conference on Waste, Wealth and Health Organized by IIWM, Vigyan Bharati & MPCST, Bhopal in association with MPPCB, giz & NSWAI at Bhopal on Feb 15th - 17th, 2013
Indiscriminate disposal of infected and hazardous waste from hospitals, nursing homes and pathological laboratories has led to significant degradation of the environment, leading to spread of diseases and putting the people to great risk from certain highly contagious and transmission prone disease vectors. This has given rise to considerable environmental concerns. Initial Actions by the Government of Madhya Pradesh Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP) started acting very promptly. The chronology of actions taken is given hereunder:1. In 1999 MP Pollution Control Board taking a lead decided that the Department of Local Self Government will be the lead Agency and will undertake a survey to quantify the waste. 2. In 1999 itself an Indo-Italian Project was initiated for Financial Assistance. 3. The incinerators were installed at Medical Colleges, Bhopal and Gwalior in 1999 and in Ujjain in 2003 for the disposal of the BMW. 4. WHO initiated ToT in the state through the PSM Department of the Medical Colleges but there was no ownership of the process by the Department of Health & Family Welfare and no budget was allocated for the activity. Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) took initiative and installed incinerators in Satna, Mandsaur and Shivpuri. The above initiatives were not enough to provide the thrust and desired forward movement due to no ownership by the Dept. of Public Health & Family Welfare (DoPHFW). Lack of funds and the coordination / miscommunication between MPPCB and DoPH&FW created confusions which further deteriorated the situation. Bio Medical Waste disposal was being implemented only in few district hospitals by their respective Patient Welfare Committees According to the rules Each hospital has to apply, pay the required Fee to obtain Authorisation for Handling, Management and Disposal of BMW from the State Pollution Control Boards (PCB). The disposal should be done through incinerators of the Common Waste Treatment Facilities (CWTF) in the Urban Areas. The rules suggest that the waste should be segregated at the point of generation and chemically treated/disinfected/mutilated before its disposal. For defaulters the rules have provision of upto 5 years imprisonment and fine upto Rs. 1 lakh. Bio Hazard and Cytotoxic Symbols should be put on all bags/bins/containers used for segregation / transportation including the trolleys and the vehicles. (See Fig-1)
For Rural areas below 5 lakh population disposal of BMW in Deep Burial Pit and Sharp Pit is suggested. (Figure showing Deep Burial and Sharp Pit Specifications)
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