Jailed ex-MLA turns out to be the owner of fake waste disposal plant
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 23, 2013:
The owner of the fake biomedical waste disposal plant located at Samurou, which was shut down by the officials of Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB) few days back, turned out to be ex-MLA of Wangoi Assemby Constituency Salam Joy.
Ex-MLA Joy is currently in the jail after he was arrested along with some underground cadres at Kolkata some months ago.
As per the summon served by Manipur Pollution Control Board to the functionaries of Rural Multipurpose Development Organization (RMDO) for running a biomedical waste disposal plant in total violation of the Government rules, ex-MLA Salam Joy's elder brother Salam Modhusudhon appeared before the MPCB Chairman Dr Ng Bijoy, Member Secretary K Jagdishwar and Senior Environmental Engineer T Mangi at the office of MPCB, Lamphelpat here today.
Modhuson disclosed to the MPCB officials that the plant was started by his younger brother Salam Joy and he had no knowledge of guidelines and norms for running a biomedical waste disposal plant.
After hearing Modhusudhon's statement, the MPCB officials directed the representatives of RMDO to dispose off all biomedical wastes piled up at Samurou Makha Leikai properly in a certified plant by December 26. The officials further warned that necessary action would be taken in accordance to the provisions under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 if the directive of MPCB is not followed by RMDO.
On further questioning about the hospitals and clinics which have provided the biomedical wastes to RMDO, the representative mentioned Sky Hospital, RIMS Road, Ragini Clinic, Samurou and Advance Hospital, Palace Compound as some of their clients.
The MPCB would also take action against those hospitals and clinics which have outsourced the biomedical waste disposal to RMDO.
The hospital managements deserve penalty according to the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 for improper management and handling of the bio-medical waste generated by them, the MPCB officials said.
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board Dr Ng Bijoy said that any firm intending to start a biomedical waste disposal plant in the State should approach the officials of MPCB, provided they should meet all criteria and possess required equipments and machineries.
Any unauthorized plant like that of RMDO would not be allowed to function under any circumstance.
The defaulters would be dealt with severely according to the Environment Protection Act, the Chairman noted.