Consider this: the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has now issued closure notices to 11 godowns in Ahmedabad for improper segregation of bio-medical waste. GPCB has also collected evidence against four firms manufacturing pharmaceutical formulations, whose facilities were earlier sealed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

These are: Gujarat Pharma and Gujarat Remedy in the Narol Industrial Estate; and Medivate Laboratory and Ketlik Pharma in Isanpur.

K C Mistry, GPCB Regional Officer, Ahmedabad, said, “We have submitted the inquiry report to the GPCB head office in Gandhinagar, and have suggested corrective action.”

It may be mentioned that there are 12 common bio-medical waste treatment facilities in Gujarat, approved and authorised under the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 under the Environment Protection Act.

As per the rules, the occupier of any institution generating and/or treating bio-medical waste, shall obtain the authorisation of GPCB for the collection, reception, storage, transport, treatment and disposal of such waste.

But as the recent raids have shown, several private as well as government medical facilities have faulted at following the norms. AMC officials have said that now some people responsible for the improper disposal of bio-medical waste might be booked under the law.

“The real picture will emerge only after the investigations are complete,” said an official.