JOIN USUnscientific techniques irk minister, DC
Medical education and district in-charge minister S A Ramdas was shocked to see the plight of a private bio-medical waste management unit, which is disposing garbage unscientifically.
The minister conducted a surprise visit, along with deputy commissioner Ramegowda and Mysore City Corporation (MCC) officials, to the unit. He was taken aback to find not more than three workers, with no supervisors, on the spot. Sree Consultants, the bio-medical waste management plant, operating since eight years at Varuna near Mysore, was found to take no measures to dispose garbage scientifically. The raid was conducted by the minister, following a tip-off from a few hospitals and clinics.
He enquired the labourers about segregation, who said they were not aware of any such procedure and all the waste collected in plastic bags were dumped into the furnaces directly. Bottles, plastic, cotton, sanitary napkins and other items were not segregated before burning.
DC Ramegowda, meanwhile, contacted environment officer P Niranjan of the Karnataka State Pollution Board regional office, who said the unit was not following the procedures and he too had received complaints in the regard. Speaking to press persons, Ramegowda said strict action will be taken against the unit. He said, general waste should be segregated from medical waste and then burnt. But the procedures were not followed at Sree Consultants.
Minister Ramdas said, complaints had been received from hospitals and clinics that the waste had not been collected regularly. He said, from April 1, every hospital and clinic should maintain records on when the waste has been collected by the agency.
Action
Action will be taken within 24 hours and notice will be issued to the unit, if found guilty, he added.
Earlier, the minister visited the new waste management unit under construction near Kesre and charged the officials of MCC for not taking appropriate measures to dispose waste properly.
The unit, set up under JNNURM funds on a five acre plot, will have modern segregation techniques to further divide garbage into degradable, non-degradable, wet waste and poultry waste.
The unit has been planned as the present sewage farm excel plant, near J P Nagar, has a capacity to dispose only 200 tonne, while the city generates nearly 400 tonne garbage every day.
Wet waste will be used to produce manure, while non-degradable waste will be burnt. A bio-gas and electricity production unit is also being planned on the site.