Now, they realise foetus is not a bio-medical waste (BMW)! Strange, the Karnataka Pollution Control Board and the Health Department just discovered there are no rules for disposal of foetus as it has not been classified as a BMW.
The BMW is classified into 10 categories as per Bio Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 framed under the Environment Protection Act 1986, by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (see box). Foetus does not find mention in them.
Police inquiry
While examining the incident in which seven foetuses were found dumped in Jakkarayankere last month, Health Minister R Ashok instituted a police inquiry into the incident.
Police filed the report and sent it to Police Commissioner and other officers concerned, a copy of which was sent to the State Pollution Control Board. “While we were looking at the rules, we found that foetus has not been classified as a bio-medical waste. Hence, under the rules, it does not come under our purview.
No clarity
It is not a municipal waste and does not come under BBMP jurisdiction. There is no clarity on its disposal. We also don’t have any statistics on the number of foetuses disposed in the State,” said Dr H C Sharatchandra, KSPCB Chairman.
He has called a meeting of the legal advisory committee on Wednesday to discuss the issue. “We need a clarification on the matter. Since, it’s a Central rule, we will have to send a proposal to Central Pollution Control Board seeking an amendment to BMW rules,” he added.
Last month, Mr Ashok had met officials of KSPCB and health officers to discuss the disposal of BMW. “Doctors said parents normally take the foetus and bury or cremate it,” said Mr K M Lingaraju, Environment Officer, SPCB.
There are two common treatment facilities for disposal of BMW in the City — Maradi Eco Industries on Kanakpura Road and Semb Ramky Environmental Management Pvt Ltd in Dobbespet.
“We accept foetus below three months on the authorisation of hospital or nursing home. Foetus above three months is considered a body and should be cremated or buried as per people’s religious beliefs,” said Mr D K Nagaraj, Director, Semb Ramky.
BIO- RULES
*Human anatomical waste (human tissues, organs, body parts)
*Animal waste (animal tissues, organs, body parts carcasses, bleeding parts, fluid, blood & experimental animals used in research, waste generated by veterinary hospitals, colleges, hospitals, animal houses)
*Microbiology & Biotechnology waste (from laboratory cultures, stocks or micro-organisms live or vaccines, human and animal cell culture used in research and infectious agents from research & industrial laboratories)
*Waste sharps (needles, syringes, scalpels, blade, glass, etc)
*Discarded medicines & cytotoxic drugs (Waste comprising outdated, contaminated and discarded medicines)
*Soiled waste (items contaminated with blood, body fluids, including cotton, dressings, soiled plaster casts, lines, bedding, other blood contaminated material)
* Solid waste (generated from disposal items other than sharp things such as tubings, catheters, intravenous sets, etc).
*Liquid waste (generated from lab & washing, cleaning, housekeeping & disinfecting activities)
*Incineration ash (from incineration of BMW)
*Chemical waste (chemicals used in production of biologicals, disinfection, insecticides, etc)
