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Nagpur: The Society for Prevention of Cruelty on Animals (SPCA), Nagpur, has been accused of carrying out Animal Birth Control (ABC) surgeries without obtaining authorisation from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and thus generating hazardous bio medical waste.
In her complaint letter to the Regional officer, MPCB, Nagpur Division, Adv Ankita Kamalesh Shah, has pointed out that the NGO named Nagpur Society for Prevention of Cruelty on Animals (Nagpur SPCA) situated Opp. Deepak Nagar, Off Katol Road, Borgaon, Gittikhadan, is carrying out an Animal Birth Control Programme (ABC) at its premises thus generating huge amount of Bio-Medical Wastes (BMW) and thus violating the environment norms willingly. The generated BMW is causing damage to environment, Ankita Shah pointed out.
The letter further pointed out that under Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, it is mandatory for the occupier to obtain the authorization from MPCB. These rules apply to all persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose, or handle bio medical waste in any form including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries, veterinary institutions, animal houses, pathological laboratories, blood banks, clinical establishments, research or educational institutions, health camps, medical or surgical camps, vaccination camps, blood donation camps, first aid rooms of schools, forensic laboratories and research labs. The said NGO was duty bound to obtain the authorization which it has not done.
Acting on the complaint of Ankita Shah, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has sent a notice to Society for Prevention of Cruelty on Animals (SPCA), Nagpur, on non-compliance of Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
The MPCB notice informed the SPCA that “it is mandatory on your part to take all necessary steps to ensure proper handling of bio medical waste and avoid adverse effects on human health and environment as per Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.”
The MPCB further said that a visit by Board official to SPCA’s health care centre following complaint of Ankita Shah has reported that you have not obtained the BMW authorization for the activities of Animal Dog Shelter with surgical operations as per BMW Rules, 2016. You have also not obtained CMWTSDF membership for scientific disposal of bio medical waste generated from your activity. Further, the BMW is not stored in scientific manner as per Rules. You are breaching the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, by disposing of cotton waste, syringes by burning, dead animals by burial and saline bottles are sold to scrap vendors in unscientific manner. It seems you are knowingly and willingly causing damages to environment and public health.
The MPCB has sought explanation from SPCA for the above serious lapses.
