Audit report obtained through RTI blames MPCB for failing to track bio-medical waste
29 Aug, 2013
The audit report of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act has found inadequacies in the actions taken by the MPCB in disposing the bio-medical waste (BMW) generated at various veterinary clinics and hospitals in Pune region.
The audit report blamed MPCB for failing to keep a track of the BMW produced in veterinary establishments. The report states that information regarding the treatment of BMW generated by veterinary establishments was available for Satara sub-region only. There was no information available about Pune I and II, Pimpri Chinchwad and Solapur region. The report also says that the pollution control board didn't make any efforts to obtain the data. The report further says that none of the 162 institutes in Satara sub-region has obtained membership of the common BMW treatment facility and that over half of them have not even furnished the required undertaking.
As per the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998, there is a specific manner in which the waste generated by treatment, diagnosis or immunization of humans or animals has to be treated. The rules stipulate that the local self governing bodies are meant to dispose of the waste and the PCB is entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the method of disposal. PCB has the authority to take penal action against the local body if it fails to dispose BMW properly.