Ernakulam Medical College’s waste problem remains

Ernakulam Medical College faces mounting waste management issues, prompting a show cause notice from KSPCB for improper disposal practices.

Even as Ernakulam Medical College prepares for the much-touted inauguration of its super speciality block in a few days, solid waste management continues to be a glaring embarrassment, with lack of a proper solid waste management system and waste getting dumped within the campus.

Amid ongoing complaints from residents about improper waste disposal, the hospital has recently been slapped with a show cause notice by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) for dumping and improper disposal of solid wastes generated in the hospital and premises.

Residents and civic representatives continue to complain about the improper waste disposal which is affecting the community nearby. According to K.B. Baburaj, councillor of ward number 14, medical college, the issue has been ongoing for several years. “A few years ago some of us intervened and prevented the burial of the plastic waste in the campus. Instead of ensuring proper management of waste, it is dumped in the premises and eventually buried. When we notice this we raise an issue. Until yesterday, the dumped waste bags continued to remain in the campus,” said Mr. Baburaj.

According to him, the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) on the campus frequently becomes non-functional, resulting in untreated wastewater being discharged into the nearby canal and causing pollution in the waterbodies nearby. “Most of the residents have complained that this has rendered their wells unusable. We need a permanent solution to this,” he added.

P.B. Asokan, a resident who lives near the hospital also complains about waste getting dumped in the campus and the rising population of street dogs due to improper waste disposal.

Last Friday, on February 20, the representative from KSPCB had conducted an inspection following complaints of improper waste management in the hospital. A show cause notice was issued after violations were noticed. “While the bio-medical waste was being managed properly, we found plastic waste and food waste being dumped and pits made to bury those. We are yet to get a reply to the notice, failing which appropriate action will be taken against the hospital,” said a KSPCB official.