CAG Report Raises Concerns Over Bio-Medical Waste Management in Meghalaya
Northeast Desk, 4th September: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has raised significant concerns regarding the improper management and disposal of Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) in Meghalaya, highlighting potential risks to public health and the environment.
According to the CAG report, most Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Town Committees across the state, with the exception of the Shillong Municipal Board, lack the essential Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facilities (CMBWTF) mandated by the Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) Rules, 2016. This has led to inadequate disposal practices, which pose serious threats to the environment and the well-being of residents.
The report detailed that in Tura, BMW was either disposed of in deep burials at the Rongkhon Songittal dumpsite or within the burial facilities of individual hospitals. Similarly, in Jowai and Nongpoh, hospitals were responsible for disposing of BMW, as the respective municipal bodies, Jowai Municipal Board (JMB) and Nongpoh Town Committee, did not collect it.
A Joint Physical Verification (JPV) of the Rongkhon Songittal site revealed that hazardous BMW, such as syringes and ampoules, were being openly dumped, raising serious concerns about the environmental and health implications of such practices.
Despite an increase in the generation of bio-medical waste from 2017 to 2020, the CAG noted an improvement in the treatment of this waste by Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBMWTF), which surged from 37% to 76%. However, there was a significant decline in captive treatment by healthcare facilities, which dropped from 63% to 24%.
The report also noted a gradual decrease in the number of healthcare facilities operating without authorization under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, from 2017 to 2020. Despite this improvement, the overall handling of BMW in Meghalaya remains a concern, with the CAG emphasizing the need for better infrastructure and stricter adherence to the prescribed guidelines to ensure the safe disposal of hazardous medical waste.