Medical waste found dumped near Kurichi tank

Coimbatore: Biomedical wastes including syringes with needles were found dumped in the open near Kurichi tank in the city on Tuesday. Activists, who pointed out that such disposals in the open and near waterbodies are prevalent in rural Coimbatore, raised concerns about their impact on health of people and on environment.
“Medical wastes were found along the Kurichi lake where pilgrims often walk barefoot. Chances of pilgrims stepping on needles and getting infection are high,” R Manikandan of Kovai Kulangal Padukappu Amaipu, who noticed the wastes, said. Manikandan said the wastes might be dumped from a nearby warehouse, where plastic and electronic wastes were collected and segregated.

About a year ago, a tonne of medical wastes including syringes and drip tubes was found dumped in Senkulam near Kuniyamuthur. Environmentalists had condemned it then saying the wastes would not only block the flow of the water but would contaminate the water and spread to other tanks.

President of Nature Conservative Society N Jalaludin said disposal of medical wastes is prevalent in rural areas than in the city. “These wastes are found mixed with domestic wastes in residential areas which may end up creating a health hazard,” he said. In some cases, hospitals or clinics would bury medical wastes, which would percolate and contaminate land and underground water resources leading to environmental hazards, he added.

Jalaludin said there was no monitoring committee to oversee the collection and scientific disposal of medical wastes.

Meanwhile, the city corporation has removed the medical wastes from the spot. “Whenever medical wastes are found in the open, the civic body does nothing other than removing them. The concerned officials should take steps to identify who dumped the wastes and should at least warn them. Only then, miscreants would not repeat the offence,” said Manikandan.

Despite several attempts, officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board were not available for a comment.