Pune: MPCB Issues Notices to Two PMC Hospitals for Bio-Medical Waste Violations

Pune, 30th August 2024: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued notices to two Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) hospitals for non-compliance with bio-medical waste regulations. The notices instructed the hospitals to establish separate bio-medical waste storage facilities within one month.

These hospitals are located in the Timber Market and Mitra Mandal Chowk areas. MPCB Regional Officer J.S. Salunkhe issued the notices, also directing the hospitals to comply with the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules of 2016. They are required to submit their annual reports and details of their wastewater treatment facilities within one month.

The MPCB further instructed the hospitals to maintain records of biomedical waste storage, segregate the waste by category, and store it in colour-coded bags until disposal. A hospital in the Mitra Mandal Chowk area had previously received a show-cause notice in May for failing to properly manage bio-medical waste but did not comply with the regulations even after the notice was issued.

Interim directions were given to the hospitals under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974, and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981. The sub-regional authorities also proposed legal action against the hospital. The hospital was instructed to submit a compliance report within seven days. In the event of non-compliance, the MPCB will take further legal action according to the prescribed procedures.