Biomedical Waste Horror: Syringes And Blood Samples Dumped At Katraj Ghat In Pune

The PMC conducted an inquiry about the discarded bio waste found at Katraj Ghat and slapped a hefty fine on the lab responsible.

1 May 2024

By Payoshi Bisht

In a shocking development, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) solid waste department found three bags of laboratory bio-waste containing syringes, along with hundreds of bottles of blood samples at Katraj ghat. The issue grabbed the attention of environmentalists and zoophilists. 

Soon, complaints started pouring in and the officials of the solid waste department of the PMC were informed and hence decided to investigate the matter. Rajesh Gurram, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, and Vikram Kathawat, Senior Health Inspector, Dhankawadi Sahakar Nagar Ward Office, conducted a detailed inquiry into the dumping of biomedical waste at the ghat, which revealed that Healthcare Services Pathology Laboratory is responsible for the dumping of the biomedical waste. The lab has been fined with 1 lakh rupees along with a strict warning letter issued, which clearly forbids it from repeating the act again. 

The inquiry into the issue was initiated by the Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) under the responsibility of the PMC. The head of the SWMD, Sandeep Kadam, said, “We found the medical prescriptions and the tests of the patients that were discarded in the waste. We traced the medical bills to the doctor that wrote the prescription, which led us to the lab that disposed of bio waste.” 

In light of the matter, the PMC has repeatedly appealed to the citizens to not discard waste in the open. Biomedical waste is collected daily by the civic health department in the city. Katraj Ghat is home to a large number of wild animals. The presence of discarded bottles of blood, which come from laboratories, is a major threat to the health of the ecosystem. The possibility of these bottles falling down the mountain slopes, bursting and polluting the environment highlights the urgency of the matter. 

Balasaheb Dhamale, a zoophilist, was informed of the issue. Dhamale and his team went to check and found three bags full of syringes and bottles with blood samples. As they watched hundreds of bottles spill out onto the road, creating a huge pile of debris, Dhamale was worried about the environmental and wildlife risks posed by this. The PMC Solid Waste management department responded quickly to resolve the problem and reduce the risks associated with improper biomedical waste disposal.