JOIN USThe Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Mallige Hospital on Crescent Road for dumping bio-medical waste in an open area near Hebbal Lake.
It has issued a showcause notice to the hospital, asking it why its trade licence should not be cancelled.
The civic agency has given three days’ time to the hospital to reply, failing which the licence will be cancelled.
Residents around Hebbal Lake were in for a shock on Thursday when they spotted medical waste, comprising blood-stained cotton balls, bandages, polythene bags, syringes, medical napkins, empty IV fluid bottles, gloves and slips bearing the name of the hospital dumped in their locality. They complained to the BBMP head office.
Following the complaint, BBMP health officer (East zone) rushed to the spot with his team and found heaps of medical waste dumped there. Soon, the notice was served on the hospital. The BBMP authorities said the dumping was in violation of the Bio Medical Waste-Management and Handling Rules, 1998.
The rule mandates hospitals to either set up their own incinerators to burn medical waste in an eco-friendly manner or hand over the contagious waste to firms dealing with it.
Mallige Hospital reportedly has a tie-up with Ramky and Maradi Eco Industry to dispose of the waste, but they chose dumping it in the open place. Attempts to call the administrator of Mallige Hospital proved futile.