Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The medical waste from 1,300 hospitals in the city and surrounding areas is now being processed scientifically by a Goa-based Biotech Company. However, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is still unwilling to grant the municipal corporation an NOC (No Objection Certificate) to operate the project.
The waste company, which has extensive experience in the scientific processing of medical waste, won the tender to handle the processing. Under the orders of the District Steering Committee, chaired by the District Collector, the municipal corporation took over the old project at Gevrai Tanda and transferred a new project for waste processing. In the past two months, the company has transformed the project. Previously, the area was so foul-smelling and unhygienic that it was impossible to stand there for two minutes. No standards were being followed, and waste was being incinerated partially and dumped. A team of journalists along with Municipal Officer Health (MoH) Dr Paras Mandlecha inspected the project on February 26.
What has changed from before?
Previously, medical waste was burned in the open, including various human body parts. The ash and dirty water produced were not being disposed of scientifically, causing the stench to spread.
The waste was not being sterilised. Workers had no facilities, and the smell made them vomit. Now, all the waste is sterilised. After sorting, it is incinerated at 800°C temperature. The dirty water is now recycled. The project uses 15,000 litres of water every day, said the project head, Sanjeev Kumar.
Collection through 12 Vehicles
Every day, 4 tons of medical waste is collected through 12 vehicles. The project has employed 80 workers, compared to the previous 8. Each worker has a mask, cap, boots, and uniform. Despite the project being run with state-of-the-art methods, the MPCB is not ready to inspect it. They have not even granted the NOC. Hence the civic administration is trying to obtain the NOC as soon as possible.