Medical Waste Discharge of Government Rajaji Hospital in Vaigai River: HC issues notice to Tamil Nadu Govt
Madurai: Taking up a case involving a serious environmental concern in Madurai, the Madras High Court has instructed relevant authorities to submit their responses after a public interest litigation (PIL) petition alleged that untreated liquid medical waste from the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) was being discharged into the Vaigai River.
A Division Bench of Justices G. R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi issued notices on the petition filed by activist Vaigai Rajan of Madurai. Vaigai Rajan's petition seeks an order to halt the discharge of medical waste into the Vaigai River, specifically in the Alwarpuram area. Rajan claims that GRH generates significant amounts of medical waste daily, which is directly channelled into the Vaigai River without proper purification, reports The Hindu.
Mr Rajan pointed out that the Centre for Urban Water Resources (CURE) of DHAN Foundation published an article in 2021 on “Water Watch Quality Matters - Urban Vaigai under Isolation” and pointed out that stopping the discharge of sewage and solid waste into the river is the only way to bar the contamination of Vaigai river with pollutants and harmful toxins.
However, the activist discovered that the sewage treatment plant at GRH has been inoperative due to a lack of a dedicated electricity connection, which would require a deposit of ₹33 lakh, reports the Daily. Additionally, the nearby sewage treatment plant at Alwarpuram is also facing possible demolition due to the construction of the proposed Goripalayam flyover. The demolition could exacerbate the discharge of untreated sewage into the Vaigai River.
Mr Rajan previously approached authorities with his concerns, urging them to address the issue of untreated sewage and medical waste being dumped into the river. However, he claimed that no concrete action had been taken to remedy the situation. The court adjourned the hearing of the case until the first week of June, allowing time for the authorities to respond and take necessary measures to address the concerns raised by the petition. This case highlights the pressing need for improved waste management practices and environmental protection in the region.
