Chennai: The NGT here has come down heavily on private hospitals operating without consent from TNPCB and even threatened to order closure of hospitals which failed to follow the norms even after showcause notices.
The court has also directed TNPCB to submit a detailed status report on all private hospitals in four districts, Chennai, Cuddalore, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram. The case has been posted for January 12.
Following NGT orders last month, TNPCB has served showcause notice to several private hospitals in four districts seeking reply. However, some hospitals didn’t even reply though the time period lapsed. “Why should we have hospitals that won’t follow rules. Bio-medical waste is a major threat to humans, animals and environment, when it is not disposed off scientifically”, the Bench said.
According to official data of TNPCB, Chennai has 397 private hospitals, of which only 133 has valid consent and remaining 264 hospitals are operating without valid consent. The TNPCB has issued showcause notice to 69 hospitals. In Kancheepuram, there are 101 private hospitals, of which only 48 have valid consent. In Tiruvallur, there are 45 hospitals and only 11 have valid consent. Cuddalore has 85 hospitals of which 82 have valid consent.
Petitioner Jawaharlal Shanmugam said many big corporate hospitals don’t have sewer lines. Definitely, there is heavy pilferage of bio medical waste, which can trigger serious health issues.
Though the NGT in its previous order directed all owners of private hospitals, which are operating without consent, to appear before the tribunal in person there were a very few who turned-up.
Instead, Anand David representing Indian Medical Association (IMA) appeared before the tribunal, which impleaded IMA in the case.
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