NEWS

The Delhi government will announce new, stricter guidelines for disposal of bio-medical waste by hospitals. The decision came after the recent incident of radioactive waste ending up in Mayapuri scrap market that claimed a life, and a recent Central Pollution Control Board study that found half the bio-medical, infectious waste generated by hospitals end up in municipal garbage. The guidelines are likely to be announced this week, said Health minister Kiran Walia, and both private and public hospitals will be looking at stiff penalties if they are caught violating the law. According to Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), it is mandatory for hospitals to incinerate infectious medical wastes. But this is rarely done.