Nagpur: In view of the recurring cases of biomedical waste being mixed with general garbage, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Solid Waste Management Department has formed four-member teams at the zonal level to conduct unannounced inspections of hospitals, clinics and pathology laboratories to check whether garbage segregation is being done properly or not.
“The team will carry out random inspection of the waste being handed over to collection firms and action will be taken against violators,” said Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dr Gajendra Mahalle.
Gold Rate
05 April 2025
Each special team will comprise zonal Health Officer, zonal officer, regional officer from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and a Nuisance Detection Squad member.
A few days ago, general waste mixed with biological waste collected from hospitals by the garbage collection company was dumped in Bhandewadi Dumping Yard. After inspection, it came to fore that six city hospitals including GMCH, Seven Star, Getwell, Neuron among others were allegedly handing over biomedical waste mixed in general garbage to NMC’s door-to-door garbage collecting firm.
Taking notice of this, the NMC had issued show-cause notices to all hospitals and the waste collection company AG Enviro. In its reply to the show-cause notice, AG Enviro claimed that garbage disposal rules are not being followed by hospitals. It is mandatory for hospitals to hand over the waste by segregating it in bags of specified colours as prescribed under rules. However, the company said this was not happening. The company also said it was not possible to check every garbage bag owing to the enormous quantity of waste being generated.
Taking note of the practical difficulties, the zonal level teams have been formed which will carry out surprise inspections.
