TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The Goa Medical College and Hospital which has been struggling with waste management over the years, may finally have a solution in sight with the commissioning of a new hydroclave.
The machine is capable of treating around 100-150 kg of biomedical waste per 35 minute cycle, depending on the nature of the waste fed into the machine. The hydroclave first shreds the waste, then steam sterilises it at 140 degrees Celsius and further reduces the weight and volume of the waste by more than 80%.
“There is no intermediate handling of waste during the entire process. All steps are fully automated and the process takes place inside a sealed container,” Director of Administration Swapnil Naik said.
GMC has for long been grappling with a problem of disposing of its waste. Over the last two years waste has been dumped by unknown persons and GMC itself outside the Yatri Niwas in an abandoned quarry.
The waste was either set on fire or caught fire by itself due to the methane gas that was generated.
Director of Administration of GMC, pledged that with the quarry now being filled, they would soon start a garden there.
“There may be people from outside who come and dump the garbage there. There is huge quantum of garbage that is already there. If you have noticed we have already begun filling up the quarry. We will close the gate and will develop a garden there, at least that should deter people from dumping garbage,” Naik said, adding that they would put pressure to get the shops outside the GMC compound to relocate to the market complex built in the road underpass by GSIDC.
