Jammu Tawi, Jan 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board (PCB) has directed the Medical Superintendent of SMGS Hospital to pay a compensation of Rs 18.28 for failing to handle the disposal of bio-medical waste in a scientific manner.
The PCB has earlier given the instruction Medical Superintendent to pay the amount within 45 days failing which an interest @ 12% will be charged for non-payment.
Shockingly, the first hospital of Jammu and Kashmir established during Maharaja’s time had been operating without any mandatory consent to establish under the Air Act, 1981, the Water Act, 1974, and any authorization under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
The J&K Pollution Control Board earlier received reports about the illegal and unscientific handling of the bio-medical waste at this once prestigious hospital.
Following this, in the show cause notice, the Pollution Control Board asked the MS to explain the reason for the continuous failure to handle the bio-medical waste in a scientific manner.
“The latest inspection report by the Regional Director Pollution Control Board Jammu indicates that the bio-medical waste is continuously being mixed with the municipal solid waste and is being disposed of by burning in the campus. Moreover, there are photographic shreds of evidence that clearly depict brazen violation of rules with impunity, which has caused irreversible damage to the environment besides being a serious health hazard.”
Thereafter, the Regional Director PCB Jammu imposed Environmental Compensation on the MS under Polluter Pays Principle in the line of the directions issued by the National Green Tribunal. Accordingly, the Board levied a compensation of Rs 18.28 lakh on the MS for violating Bio-Medical Waste Rules, 2016 for the period commencing from the issuance of show-cause notice up to October 20, 2020, media reports said.
