Comptroller and Auditor General of India said untreated liquid
waste was discharged into municipal drains as bio-medical waste (BMW)
management in hospitals across Odisha was found to be insufficient.“The SPCB
detected violation and non-compliance of the provisions of Bio-Medical Waste
(Management and Handling) (BMWMH) Rules by 465 hospitals in the State during
2008-13, out of which, it issued notices in 392 cases, initiated prosecution in
12 cases but the occupier was convicted in only one case,” CAG maintains. Low
rate of filing cases (less than three per cent) indicated inefficient
enforcement mechanism, it adds.“Despite repeated instructions of SPCB, three
government medical college hospitals did not take appropriate measures to
augment equipment, infrastructure and services for proper BMW management,” CAG
points out in its latest report.