The Hindu, Bangaluru Updated: April 27, 2016 05:32 IST
All four hospitals that officials of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) visited on Tuesday were found wanting in terms of waste management. The officials visited K.C. General Hospital, Vikram Hospital, Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital and Gosha Hospital to check compliance with the Bio Medical Waste Rules and create awareness about the new Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
KSPCB Chairman Lakshman directed his team to issue notices for non-compliance.
A KSPCB release pointed to non-compliance in various areas. Gosha Hospital, for instance, was said to be operating without required consent and authorisation from the board, and segregation of waste was improper. “Some units of the sewage treatment plant are not functional. The liquid effluent and sewage are being discharged into the underground drain without treatment even though an effluent treatment plant (ETP) exists,” the release added.
However, Medical Superintendent Nirmala Bai said the hospital is in the process of being upgraded. “We need to apply for a renewal of licence and are waiting for the construction to be completed,” she said.
At Bowring Hospital, officials found that bio-medical waste had not been lifted by the facilitator for two days. They noticed problems in solid waste collection as well.
Manjunath K.S., Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said authorities had met after the KPSCB officials’ visit to rectify the errors.
