Nine government hospitals ordered to shut

Nine government hospitals ordered to shut

Nine government hospitals ordered to shut


Express News Service
First Published : 19 Jun 2009 05:46:00 AM IST
Last Updated :

BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has ordered the closure of nine government hospitals in Bangalore for failing to install effluent treatment plants. KSPCB has directed the hospitals to shut down from July 1, 2009.

The hospitals facing closure order are Victoria, Vani Vilas, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, Bowring and Lady Curzon, SDS TB Sanatorium (Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases), Hajee Sir Ismail Sait Gosha Hospital in Tasker Town, General Hospital in Jayanagar and K C General Hospital in Malleswaram.

They have been asked to stop admitting patients with immediate effect.

KSPCB had kept the closure order issued to six private hospitals in abeyance till July 30, 2009 giving them time to install plants. They are HAL Hospital, Chinmaya Mission in Indiranagar, St Martha’s Hospital on Nrupatunga Road, Ambedkar Hospital in KG Halli, KIMS Hospital in VV Puram and ESI Hospital in Indiranagar.

KSPCB counsel filed the closure order report to the Lok Adalat on Thursday. The Adalat accepted the report.

Meanwhile, the Adalat had rejected the plea of the state government to extend time for installation of the plants but granted it a week’s time.

Under section 33(A) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 KSPCB had issued closure orders against these hospitals.

It had directed that the hospitals stop all activities after 15 days from the date of the order and directed them to make alternative arrangements for in-patients.

KSPCB had further directed the managing directors of BESCOM and BWSSB to disconnect power and water supply to the nine hospitals.

Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner has to ensure the hospitals close after July 1, 2009, KSPCB directed.

Lok Adalat chairman K L Manjunath and member Dr Yellappa Reddy pulled up the government. “The officers in the government have taken the Adalat and KSPCB for granted. Your (officers’) conduct shows that you have no intention to install the effluent treatment plants.”