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Gurugram: Syringes Dumped Near Park, Health Hazard Grows
2 Jul
Summary
- Used syringes and medical waste openly dumped near a Gurugram park.
- Clinics are accused of violating biomedical waste disposal norms.
- Sanitation workers face infection risk due to inadequate protection.
In Gurugram's Om Vihar locality, sanitation workers uncovered a serious health hazard on Thursday, finding used syringes, dressings, and gloves openly dumped by the roadside. This improper disposal of biomedical waste (BMW) from nearby clinics is a direct violation of the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016. These rules mandate strict segregation of hazardous waste into categories like yellow for contaminated items, red for plastics, white for sharps, and blue for glassware.
The collected BMW is supposed to be transported by a designated agency to a Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility in Faridabad. However, the discovery of waste near informal settlements indicates significant gaps in the collection process, particularly from smaller health units. Residents' Welfare Association representatives have expressed deep concern, emphasizing the risk to sanitation workers who lack essential protective gear like gloves and masks.
The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) acknowledged the issue, stating that an inter-departmental meeting was held in March to address similar past incidents. The MCG spokesperson assured that strict action would be taken against clinics found guilty of open dumping. A senior official from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board confirmed an investigation is underway to identify and penalize violators, while a private agency currently manages Gurugram's BMW collection and disposal.
