Despite the many technical innovations and research undertaken in various fields, one issue that the consecutive governments of this State have been unable to tackle has been of garbage management. Despite efforts, and of course junkets abroad to study how other countries tackle their garbage, a solution to managing the garbage generated has eluded the Goa government for several decades. And it’s not just household and commercial garbage that piles up in Goa, but biomedical waste too, of which Goa generates about 250 metric tonnes every month. Just what is done with all this garbage is a question that has no answer.
Biomedical waste, one has to realize, is potentially infectious. It is generated not just in hospitals, but is also generated in doctors clinics and medical laboratories. It can consist not just of sharp objects such as syringes and blades, but also microbiological cultures, identifiable body parts, human or animal tissue, used bandages and dressings, discarded gloves, or any other medical items that may have been in contact with an infected person. When not treated scientifically or disposed properly, every one of these items is a potential health hazard, as it remains infectious for a certain period of time.
Now, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to undertake new environment-friendly research for treatment and management of waste generated by health care facilities. GSPCB has risen to the occasion and has decided to contact colleges that have the science stream, Goa University, BITS Pilani and other professional colleges asking them to undertake new innovations and research for bio-medical waste management. The board is also planning on conducting training programmes for staff of health care facilities on segregation, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal off bio-medical waste. While these are good moves by the GSPCB, that just won’t be enough to tackle medical waste that is an urgent need.
Tackling bio-medical waste needs concerted and immediate efforts from all the concerned bodies of the government. Despite the efforts of the government to have a Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBMWTF) to treat medical waste, even constituting a 10-member expert committee, there is no much progress. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which has been entrusted with the task of identifying land for the CBMWTF, is yet to zero in on the 10,000 square metres of land that are required for the facility.
The CBMWTF, when it comes up is expected to have treatment facilities that include incineration, autoclaving or microwaving, chemical disinfection, shredder, effluent treatment plant, washing and others. But that day is still a long way away. The first step of identifying land for the facility has not been completed, and given NIMBY (not in my backyard) factor that is so prevalent in Goa, convincing the residents of the neighbourhood that the facility is required and will not affect the village or town could delay the project further. Everything about the CBMWTF is at a very preliminary stage. It is not just the identification of the site, the expert committee that has been appointed to oversee and monitor the setting up of the facility is yet to select and finalize the technology for the plant and its capacity.
Handling and treatment of bio-medical waste has to be regulated and strictly monitored to ensure that the waste is not harmful in any way after being handled or treated. And this has to commence at medical facilities, where disposal should be undertaken properly in colour-coded bags or bins. Like any other garbage, once bio-medical waste is segregated at sources, its further handling, disposal and treatment becomes easier. Until that starts, any facility set up to treat bio-medical waste will not serve the purpose. GSPCB has to impress upon those institutes that will be undertaking research to discover new ways of handling bio-medical waste that the process they conceive should involve the people at the source.
