LAUNCH: UNIDO team launches “Environmentally Sound Management of Medical Wastes” in Punjab

Ludhiana, January 15, 2013: United National Industrial Development Organisations (UNIDO) team comprising of Dr Zoltan Csizer, Senior Consultant, UNIDO, Vienna, Erlinda Galvan, Industrial Development Officer, UNIDO, Vienna, Dr S P Dhua, Regional Coorinator, UNIDO, New Delhi, Dr YP Ramdev, National Technical Advisor, UNIDO and Dr M Subba Rao, Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India today visited DMCH on the successful launching of “Environmentally Sound Management of Medical Wastes” in the state of Punjab.

The project was launched by Ravinder Singh, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board.

Earlier, the team had visited Government Rajindera Hospital, Patiala yesterday.

Dean Academics- Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina extended warm welcome to the visiting dignitaries and apprised them about the effective disposal of bio-medical waste from the hospital and the training facilities available.

Secretary Prem Kumar Gupta also expressed his concern over proper disposal of biomedical waste and thanked the visiting team for chosing DMCH as a platform for the successful launching of the project in the state.

The project is in regard of the Stockholm Convention held on 13th January, 2006 on “Reduction of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)” and will be implemented in the five states of India including Punjab, Gujrat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Orrisa. The project aims at reducing and ultimately eliminating the release of POPs and other harmful pollutants into the environment. The project will facilitate promotion of Public Private Partnership (PPP) to improve local technological and manufacturing capacities in medical waste transport and disposal sectors to avoid unintentionally produced POPs by applying best available techniques and best environment practices. The total cost of the project is estimated to be US 40 million dollars for five states over a period of five years, out of which Global Environmental Facility (GEF) financing is 10 million dollars and 30 million dollars is to be raised through co-financing.

Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India is the coordinating agency of the Government and Health and Family Welfare Department are the counterparts of the project. Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) is the Nodal office in the state to facilitate smooth coordination for the project.