Omar approves Bio-medical Waste Management Projects

Excelsior Correspondent

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chairing meeting of officers at Srinagar on Monday.

SRINAGAR, Sept 3: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has given go ahead to the establishment of two Bio-medical Waste Management Projects one each at Jammu and Srinagar with the directions for setting up of facilities of incinerators at Leh, Kargil, Doda and Poonch.
Approving the proposal involving on expenditure of about Rs 7.40 crore for the creation of this facility to cater to the bio-medical waste generated in various Government and private hospitals in the State, the Chief Minister said that the identification of feasible sites for establishment of Bio-medical Waste Projects should be time-lined to start the construction work.
The Chief Minister directed for factoring in the Pollution Control Board in the task of identification of the land for the purpose. He asked the Health Department to formulate a team of officers from Health, Revenue and Pollution Control Departments for identifying the land and certifying its feasibility for construction of Bio-Medical Waste Projects.
The Chief Minister was chairing a high level meeting in which the proposals to this effect were discussed in detail.
The Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Planning and Development B.B. Vyas, Principal Secretary Housing Suresh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Asgar Samoon, District Development Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal and Directors of Health services Kashmir and Jammu, VC SDA, Commissioner SMC were present besides other senior officers.
Each proposed Medical Waste Management Project world cater to the disposal of waste products generated in hospitals within 150 kms radius in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu while the incinerators are designed to take care of the waste products generated in health units in the far off and interior areas of the Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Leh and Kargil.
Underlining the importance of proper and hygienic disposal of bio-medical waste generated in various health units and hospitals in the State both in Government and private sector, the Chief Minister said that a well managed and coordinated bio-waste management facility is need of the hour. He asked the concerned departments to finalize the strategy in this regard and timeline all aspect so that work on establishment of these units takes place as early as possible.
The Chief Minister said that proper management of bio-medical waste generated by hospitals and health units in the State should be thrust area for Health and Medical Education Department ensuring that the disposal takes place in scientific and requisite manner in all health units functioning in the public and private sector.