PPE kit disposed of with garbage in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Monday issued a notice to Aditya Multi Speciality Hospital, Ghatlodia for allegedly disposing of PPE kit in the routine garbage. The AMC solid waste department has threatened to impose a fine of Rs five lakh on the hospital.
According to the AMC officials, there were reports that biohazardous waste was being dumped in the routine garbage. The officials said that according to the rules, the biohazardous waste was supposed to be kept in a separate closed dustbin and that such material was supposed to be disposed of as per Gujarat Pollution Control Board norms.
The AMC in its notice said that on checking the hospital it was noticed that a PPE kit used by the hospital staff was disposed of in the routine garbage bin.The AMC in the notice issued under Epidemic Act 1897 and Essential Service Maintenance Act has sought a clarification from the hospital by Tuesday. The AMC has said that failing to give a satisfactory reply will force the civic body to impose a fine of Rs five lakhs.
However, sources said that apart from the hospital, a photograph has also gone viral where the AMC garbage van is seen moving with PPE kits which are mixed in the routine home garbage. Such garbage are collected separately and are disposed of at Pirana by digging a special pit for the same.
However, the photographs which have gone viral also show that the vehicle numbered GJ-01-XX-7966 had several PPE kits. Even in one of the photographs, the staff of the vehicle was seen putting the PPE kit in the vehicle without any gloves. He had the PPE kit in his hand without any protection.