Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The municipal corporation has appointed a highly advanced Biotech Company from Goa to collect biomedical waste from government and private hospitals in the city and dispose of it scientifically. However, some officials from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) are allegedly favouring another company and are unwilling to grant the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Biotech Company for setting up a plant at Shendra MIDC. Surprisingly, the company whose services had been discontinued by the CSMC was given NoC by MPCB. Mayor Sameer Rajurkar announced that a meeting will soon be held with state’s environment minister Pankaja Munde to discuss the issue.
For the past 22 years, the work of collecting and disposing of biomedical waste had been handled by the Watergrace Company from Nashik. Due to unsatisfactory performance, the municipal administration terminated the company’s contract and initiated a fresh tender process, in which the Biotech Company secured the contract.
Despite the company claiming to follow all rules and regulations, the MPCB has allegedly refused to issue various required NOCs. As a result, it has become difficult for the company to establish the proposed modern facility.
During a review meeting chaired by mayor Sameer Rajurkar, it was revealed that the company is also facing difficulties at its current operating site in Patoda. Municipal Commissioner G Sreekanth had repeatedly followed up with the MPCB, but no action was taken. The matter was also raised with the Minister of State for Environment, but without result, prompting the Biotech Company to approach the court.
The mayor said that the issue will now be discussed in a meeting with environment minister Pankaja Munde soon.
Shortage of Staff
During the meeting, the mayor instructed municipal officer of health (MoH) Dr Paras Mandlecha to prepare a list of key tasks of the health section. He also directed officials to fill vacant posts.
The health section has 501 sanctioned posts, of which 271 are currently vacant. While 27 doctor positions are sanctioned, only 8 to 9 permanent doctors are presently working with the municipal corporation.