KSPCB chief threatens to slap cases on hospitals

KSPCB chief threatens to slap cases on hospitals

KSPCB chief threatens to slap cases on hospitals


Express News Service
First Published : 21 Jun 2009 04:55:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 21 Jun 2009 08:46:20 AM IST

BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) Chairman Dr H C Sharatchandra on Saturday said that criminal cases can be booked against the directors of the nine hospitals to which closure notices were recently issued by KSPCB for violating the Water Act 1974.

He was speaking after an introductory seminar on “Decentralized Approaches to Wastewater Treatment” organised here by KSPCB.

The nine hospitals are Victoria, Bowring, Lady Curzon, Vani Vilas, K C General, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, Kidwai Memorial, Ghousia and Jayanagar General Hospitals.

He further said that these hospitals have received sufficient funds from the central government and they are using it for replacing the tiles, etc. instead of installing an effluent treatment plant (ETP).

As per rules, the complexes that house more than 100 apartments and huge commercial complexes must install sewage treatment plants (STP) in the premises.

Presently, there are around 12,810 industries that release effluents in the state, 4,581 of which have installed their own ETPs.

KSPCB will give reasonable time to the remaining industries to install ETPs. If they do not comply, KSPCB will withhold consent for their operation.

Centralised sewer treatment systems are aging and inefficient. Nearly 740 million litre per day (MLD) of sewer is being released from the city every day and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has set up merely 13 STPs.

Only 60 per cent of the water is being treated, which is also not being utilised properly.

Decentralised waste water treatment solutions are increasingly being recognised as cost-effective and environment- friendly options for the cities not served by the conventional centralized system.

Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS) is one such unique approach developed on the basis of natural wastewater treatment principles and techniques.