‘Establish common bio-medical waste treatment facility’

An activist on Monday submitted a petition to Madurai Collector urging the authorities to establish a common bio-medical waste treatment facility in Madurai for safe disposal of medical waste generated in the district.

Activist B. Sarmesh Khan urged the authorities to conduct a detailed inquiry into the deficiencies prevailing in the medical waste management. He demanded appropriate action be taken.

He said large quantities of medical waste were generated from medical institutions in the district and expressed concern over the lack of adequate facilities to scientifically treat and dispose of the medical waste.

There were complaints regarding medical waste being dumped in open spaces and not being removed in a timely manner. It posed a serious threat to public health and the environment. It is the need of the hour to establish a modern medical waste treatment plant in the district based on scientific principles, he said.

Apart from the facility, a special inspection committee should be formed at the district level. Surprise inspections should be conducted periodically in government and private medical institutions. Appropriate action should be taken against those who illegally dump medical waste and violate the statutory regulations, he said.

A district-level monitoring mechanism should be created in coordination with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and information regarding medical waste collection, transportation and treatment should be published, he said.