Rajkot: Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) imposed an administrative charge of Rs 10,000 on Nova Wings IVF Hospital for allegedly dumping biomedical waste at an unauthorised location.According to an RMC statement, biomedical waste was found near the gate of Masala Market, beside Jasal Complex near Nanavati Chowk on Ring Road. The waste included syringes.Action was taken by the RMC’s solid waste management department under the instructions of the environmental engineer and the guidance of the deputy environmental engineer.Biomedical waste disposal is governed by the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, which apply to hospitals, IVF centres, clinics, laboratories, nursing homes, blood banks, vaccination camps and other establishments that generate or handle biomedical waste.Under the rules, biomedical waste must be segregated at the point of generation and placed in prescribed colour-coded bags or containers. Sharps, including needles and syringes, must be collected separately in puncture-proof and leak-proof containers.Biomedical waste cannot be dumped on roads, in open spaces, drains, ordinary garbage bins or municipal tipper vehicles. Healthcare facilities are required to hand over such waste to an authorised common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facility (CBWTF). Facilities within the serviceable area of a CBWTF are generally required to maintain an agreement with the authorised facility.RMC has urged hospitals, clinics and medical practitioners across the city not to dispose of biomedical waste through municipal tipper vehicles or at unauthorised locations. It has advised healthcare establishments to use the services of an authorised biomedical waste disposal agency.
