The Hindu : Incinerators in Government hospitals within six months

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Incinerators in Government hospitals within six months

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, JAN.14. A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court was informed by K. Ramamoorthy, Principal Secretary, Department of Health, that a regular system for disposal of hospital wastes and effluent treatment plant would be in place within six month in all Government hospitals and medical colleges.

The Health Secreary, who appeared in person before the court in response to a directive, told the court that the Government was planning to install incinerators and effluent treatment plants in 17 Government hospitals and medical colleges in the State. The matter was being disucssed by the Cabinet today. They also undertook that the affidavit in this regard would be filed in the court by tomorrow. The Superintendent of the Kottayam Medical College, P. Balachandran, also appeared in person before the court. He told the court that the system for disposal of waste and effluent was not satisfactory. However, an incinerator was being installed and it would be commissioned in two months. A plant for treatment of effluent was in the process of installation. And it would be commissioned in two months.

The Bench comprising the Chief Justice, J.L. Gupta, and Justice N.K Sodhi had directed them to appear in person before the court when a letter complaining about the dumping of hospital waste on the premises of the Kottayam Medical College came up before the court. The letter was treated as a writ petition.

Case withdrawn

The Bench today dismissed as withdrawn a writ petition seeking a probe into the awarding of contract for implementation of the World Bank-aided Kerala State Transport Project.

When the petition filed by Varghese Kannampallil, president, Government Contractors' Association, came up, counsel for the petitioner wanted to withdraw the petition in view of the submission made by the State Government that all proceedings and steps taken for executing works under the Performance-based Management and Maintenance Component of the World Bank-aided Kerala State Transport Project had been "abated" as per the steering committee meeting of the project.

According to the petitioner, there was duplication of road works already undertaken by the Public Works Department (PWD) under the project. The petition also pleaded that a direction be issued to the Project Director and the State Government to reconsider the selection of roads under the project. The petitioner alleged that even as the PWD reckoned the cost per kilometre of road maintenance at Rs. 25 lakhs, the road works under the project had been pegged at Rs.150 lakhs per kilometre.

Directive to varsity

Justice M. Ramachandran has set aside the order of the Mahatma Gandhi Unviersity Registrar refusing to approve the appointment of K.J. Joseph as principal of the K.E.College, Mannanam.

The court directed the university to consider the request of the college afresh. The court was of the view that the request was turned down by the Registrar, instead of the Syndicate. The court observed that it was the Syndicate that had been empowered to consider such request as per the provisions of the statute.

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