Close errant hospitals, says angry Lok Adalat - Bangalore - Cities - The Times of India

Close errant hospitals, says angry Lok Adalat - Bangalore - Cities - The Times of India

Close errant hospitals, says angry Lok Adalat
5 Jun 2009, 0440 hrs IST, TNN

BANGALORE: The Lok Adalat hearing the 1998 PIL regarding water supply to Bellandur on Thursday came down heavily on KSPCB for not complying its order regarding hospitals without ETPs (effluent treatment plants).

The Lok Adalat headed by Justice K L Manjunath gave time till June 18 as the last chance to the Board to take action against hospitals and warned that if action was not taken, its chairman would have to face the consequences.

"We have been granting time from the past three years. You have not taken any concrete action. It shows the inefficiency of the Board. If any hospital has not set up any effluent treatment plants, close them. No mercy for any polluter... You are, in a way, abetting this crime... Is the government there to protect the health of the public or not?" the bench strongly observed.

KSPCB counsel D Nagaraj told the Adalat that of 47 hospitals (100 beds and above) in the city, 30 private hospitals have complied or are in the process of complying. Of 17 government hospitals, only eight have complied and K C General Hospital
, Malleswaram, General Hospital, Jayanagar, Hajee Sir Ismail Sait Ghousia Hospital, Tasker Town, SDS TB Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, Hosur Road, Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Shivajinagar, Minto Hospital, Chamarajpet, Vani Vilas Hospital, K R Road, Victoria Hospital and Kidwai Hospital have not taken any steps to set up ETPs so far.