Assam: 3 medical entities fined over waste management violations

Guwahati: Three more leading medical entities of Assam, based in Guwahati, were penalised over charges of violating standing waste management norms on Wednesday night.

A joint team of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) accompanied by technical persons from the Pollution Control Board Assam conducted the drive to inspect the bio-medical waste management systems in four private hospitals and diagnosis centres off the city.

The three entities — Pulse Diagnosis, Apollo Hospital and Primus Imaging Private Limited — were fined for not following government prescribed waste management norms.

Sources in GMC informed EastMojo that a fine of Rs 20,000 each were imposed on Pulse Diagnosis and Apollo Hospital, while Rs 5,000 was penalised on Primus Imaging Private Limited.

Earlier, a total fine of Rs 80,000 was imposed on two hospitals by the GMC for the wrongful disposal of biochemical waste in general dustbins. The hospitals in question were Critical Care Hospital and Akansha Hospital.

The biochemical waste was found in GMC dustbins which are meant for general garbage disposal. “In this prevailing pandemic situation of COVID-19 outbreak, disposal of biochemical waste in general garbage collection dustbins poses a threat to not only human health and safety but also to the environment,” stated in a press release by the commissioner’s office.