Times of India: Indore: Wednesday,
May 29, 2019.
Madhya Pradesh, the best
performing state in solid waste management with two cleanest cities in top five
as per 2019 Swachh Survekshan, has failed miserably in disposing of biomedical waste
(BMW) generated from veterinary hospitals, a study by central pollution control
body suggests.
Around 300 kg per day of BMW is
generated from veterinary units in the state.
The study by Regional
Directorate Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Bhopal on veterinary
hospitals and institutes of the state has revealed that 80 per cent biomedical waste
from veterinary outlets is disposed with municipal waste.
The survey, conducted in 20 veterinary hospitals and institutes, concluded that 99 per cent institutes have not
procured permission from PCB to store and dispose biomedical waste, violating
Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 & 2018.
Around 80 per cent BMW generated during
veterinary treatment is either disposed of with municipal waste or burnt in
open causing a great threat to human life and environment, the study report
received in response to a TOI’s RTI query reveals.
BMW generated during
veterinary treatment unless disposed of properly can lead to serious health
hazards to human beings, said experts.
Of the three veterinary units
in Indore, one at Snehlataganj had authorization from PCB, while the rest two
at Chhawani and Rajmohalla have not even applied for the registration.
In the state, hospitals at
Bhopal and Hoshangabad have valid authorisations while units in Sidhi, Babai,
Sohagpur, Ujjain, Ashta, Sehore and Vidisha have not obtained permissions completely
violating the rules.
Indore Veterinary Department’s
deputy director Dr C K Ratnawat said, “We are in the process of applying for
registration. In the next 2 months all the units of Indore will get registered. We are also in talks
with incinerator service providers for routine collection of waste from the
premises.”
The field survey done by Dr
Anoop Chaturvedi, senior scientific assistant at CPCB reported poor waste
management, inappropriate transportation and unscientific disposal measures at
over 90 per cent facilities.
The survey suggested that most
of veterinarians were unaware of their legal responsibilities towards collection
and disposal of BMW.
Dr Mukesh Kumar Mehta, Dean,
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow said, “Proper disposal
of BMW is very important otherwise it may lead to Zoonotic diseases that spread
from animals to humans if they come in their contact.”
The survey showed that
veterinary college is far better than other units in the state but still lacks
in maintaining proper documentation.