JK PCB Chairman reviews COVID-19 Waste Management

Jammu: Pollution Control Board, J&K, Chairman, Suresh Chugh, Wednesday reviewed the management of COVID-19 waste being generated by various Health Care Facilities (HCFs) and the Common Bio Medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility (CBWTF), here at a meeting.
At present there are three CBWTFs in Jammu & Kashmir, out of which, 02 are directly involved in collection, transport and disposal of COVID-19 Waste.
The Chairman asked the field functionaries to take cognizance of public complaints regarding open dumping of untreated COVID-BM Waste, including the other BMW etc as such incidents are very alarming amid the Pandemic. He asked for close monitoring of disposal of Covid-19 waste at the level of HCFs and CBWTFs.
He said taking suo-moto cognizance of one such case, the NGT has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to prepare separate guidelines to improve monitoring system of CBWTFs. PCBs of States/UTs have also been directed to start a special drive to monitor the COVID-19 waste at various levels. In this regard, CPCB has also prepared guidelines which have been circulated to the Health and Medical Education Department and other agencies involved in COVID-19 Waste Management, including Municipal Corporations and other ULBs.
The Chairman also emphasized to avoid mixing of regular Bio Medical Waste and COVID-19 waste like PPEs, syringes, gloves. A separate meeting with representatives of CBWTFs was also held recently and they were also given appropriate directions to follow guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board with regard to COVID-19 Waste Management.
It has been insisted that details of the COVID-19 waste be submitted online to CPCB on a regular basis with the use of tracking App COVID19 BMW for daily updating of the data on the Covid19BMW. During the month of August, 78000 Kg of COVID-19 waste was generated, collected and disposed of scientifically by CBWTFs in J&K.
The Chairman also directed the Regional Directors of PCB to constitute teams to closely monitor activities of COVID-19 waste management and submit regular reports to PCB headquarter in requisite formats.
The meeting among others was attended by B.M.Sharma, IFS, Member Secretary, JK PCB, Dr. Nadeem Hussain, Regional Director, PCB, Jammu, J.N.Sharma, Environmental Engineer, Smt. Neelu Sharma, Prl. Scientific Officer, PCB, Jammu and Rafi Ahmad Bhat, Regional Director, PCB, Kashmir and Dr. Sabina Sultan, I/c Scientist C, PCB, Kashmir.