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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, May 6: The Pune Municipal Corporation PMC is reluctant to take a decision on disposing human anatomical waste from private hospitals at its incinerator at Kailash crematorium. Despite applications pending since last six months, the PMC wonders whether it would be able to cope with the mammoth task of disposing additional waste.
D D Chandakkar, assistant medical officer, told Pune Newsline that nearly 10 private hospitals have requested the corporation to dispose of their human anatomical waste which includes placenta and amputated body parts. 8220;We have yet to take a decision as collection and transportation from the private hospital poses a major problem,8221; Chandakkar admits.
The incinerator installed at Kailash crematorium which cost Rs 18 lakh has a capacity of disposing 300 kg waste in a six hour shift. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board MPCB has also sanctioned a grant to the PMC for purchasing the second incinerator, Chandakkar said.
The PMC has also proposed the privatisation of collection and transportation of bio-medical waste. In order to be cost-effective, the civic body has proposed that incinerators be placed at a few major hospitals where smaller nursing homes in the vicinity could also avail of the facility by paying a fee.
Meanwhile, a meeting of private hospitals with the PMC health officials decided to take stern measures against the unhealthy practice of recycling the disposable waste. Doctors have been told to cut the nozzle of syringes, puncture saline bottles apart from taking other precautions so as to prevent the items from being used again.
