In the last one year, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has served notice to 155 healthcare facilities across the state for violating the Bio-Medical Waste Management (BMWM) Rules, 2016.

These notices were issued between January and December 2024, after the Board found 168 hospitals in violation of the rule. That apart, as many as 17 Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facilities were also served with show cause notices for not managing the waste properly.

Experts say while unscientific dumping of this hazardous waste is going on rampantly, monitoring has been shifted to the back burner, leading to many violations. Nonetheless, 155 show-cause notices issued by KSPCB are not even the tip of the iceberg, they say.

“If monitoring is done strictly, this number will be muc

See Full Page