Kochi to get biomedical waste treatment facility

IMA to build and operate the unit at Brahmapuram

Ernakulam, which is home to the most number of hospitals in the State and, by extension, generates the greatest volume of biomedical waste, may finally get a state-of-the-art biomedical waste treatment facility.

Giving in to the longstanding demand of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which operates the sole such facility in the State in Palakkad under its initiative IMAGE (IMA Goes Eco-friendly), the State government has issued orders allocating three acres for setting up a similar facility at Brahmapuram.

“The government’s contribution would be land where the IMA would build and operate the facility with the concurrence of the Corporation, which owns 100 acres in Brahmapuram,” A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, Urban Affairs Secretary, told

The Hindu .

Having already bought land in Thiruvananthapuram for a similar facility, the IMA is looking at addressing the challenge of biomedical waste for the next 10 to 20 years. Once the district administration hands over the land, the IMA is confident of setting up the facility in less than a year at an investment of around Rs.5 crore.

Health facility

“It would not be just a treatment plant, but an extended health facility, the contours of which would be decided in consultations with local political leadership and stakeholders,” said Sreejith N. Kumar, IMA State president.

The facility in Palakkad commissioned in December 2003, has the capacity to treat 35 tonnes a day, covering 7,000-odd hospitals, accounting for over one lakh beds.

“Ernakulam accounts for almost one-third of those hospitals and around 10 tonnes of the waste. We plan the proposed facility as one catering to Thrissur, Idukki and Kottayam districts as well. Coupled with the proposed facility in Thiruvananthapuram, it would spare us the logistical problems of transporting the biomedical waste from across the State to Palakkad,” said Abraham Varghese, IMA State vice president.

The IMA has also reached an understanding with the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (Credai) - Kochi chapter to collect segregated biomedical waste generated in their member apartments.

At present, biomedical waste in the form of syringes, sanitary napkins etc., are being dumped mixed with general waste, which is prohibited by rules.