HC directs MPCB to initiate action against hospitals

Mumbai, Jan 31 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to initiate appropriate action against hospitals in the Metropolis and rest of the state for not complying with Bio Medical Waste Management rules.

A division bench, comprising Chief justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice J P Devdhar also asked the MPCB to prosecute highest authorities of these hospitals if they failed to abide by the rules within 6-8 weeks.

The judges came down heavily on MPCB for ''not adhering to its public responsibility'', futher observing that the Board was wasting public money by issuing notices and advertisements instead of doing any actual work, when it found that several hospitals from Mumbai and more than 1870 hospitals throughout the state had not even bothered to register with MPCB for complying with Bio-Med Waste management Rules.

During last hearing, the court had appointed Commissioners to physically inspect several hospitals in Mumbai. The Court commissioners submitted their report, pointing out several private hospitals had not taken any steps to ensure Bio-Medical waste was disposed of as per guidelines issued by MPCB. Report of some state run hospitals like JJ hospital and Municipal hospitals like KEM Hospital was also found to be unsatisfactory.

After the Court Commissioner put their findings before the court, Advocate Rajeev Chavan, appearing for Union government, also pointed out that there were more than 1870 hospitals throughout the state that had not bothered to register with MPCB and sought action against them too.

The judges also directed the state government to provide required infrastructure, including manpower to MPCB so as to enable the Board to initiate proper action and regularly inspect the hospitals.

UNI XR OBB AM RAI2034