Agra: District magistrate Ravi Kumar NG has ordered a probe against hospitals for violating norms regarding management of bio-medical waste . A report has been sought from the district health department.District magistrate has asked for number of hospitals registered in the city, data of bio-medical waste collection and disposal mechanism.DM Kumar passed the orders during a meeting of Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) authority on Thursday. Earlier this month, TOI had reported how harmful bio-medical waste was being illegally carried in civic body vehicles and sold to scrap dealers.An AMC garbage collection vehicle, brimming with medical waste, including used syringes, empty drip bottles, paddings etc., was found passing through a residential area by TOI. As per norms, the civic body is only responsible for management of municipal solid waste (MSW) and is not supposed to collect or dispose of medical waste, which is highly dangerous and has to be destroyed within 48 hours of generation. The health department assigns the job to a private agency.Even as carrying such waste in open trucks poses health risks to residents, civic body workers do it anyway to make a profit by selling it to scrap dealers.According to sources, the bio-medical waste collected is segregated before it is sold. Several private hospitals are also involved in this. Single-use items like cotton, bandages etc. are mixed with MSW or burnt, putting public health at a high risk.Bio-medical waste is generated during the diagnosis, treatment and during immunization of human beings and animals. It is also generated during research activities.

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