Tamil Nadu will soon get three new biomedical waste processing facilities. They are planned on the outskirts of Chennai, Krishnagiri and Cuddalore. Presently, eight centers handle biomedical waste generated by 22,000 hospitals, laboratories, clinics and other health care facilities (HCFs) across the State. These units will be coming up in Virudhachalam in Cuddalore, Bargur in Krishnagiri and Gummidipoondi in Chengalpet.
Of these, the Virudhachalam unit is expected to begin operations as soon as 95 per cent work is complete. The need for new facilities was felt after the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) closed three centers in Nilgiris, Virudhunagar and Coimbatore after they were found violating Bio Medical Waste Management Rules 2016.
The Gummidipoondi unit will be a major relief for Chennai hospitals that are facing action from TNPCB for not signing or renewing contracts with waste management facilities.
