Officials investigate bio-medical waste dumping at Hosakerehalli Lake

Officials from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) inspected Hosakerehalli Lake in Rajarajeshwari Nagar on Thursday morning after residents living in the area discovered a considerable amount of bio-medical waste (BMW) dumped inside and around the water body on Tuesday. The officials examined the waste and assured the residents that action would be taken against the offender.

“The bio-medical waste has been cleared with the help of a common bio-medical waste treatment facility and we are in the process of identifying the culprit. We have recovered syringes, expired medicines, used gloves, and some biological samples from the site. Most of the waste was expired medicine. We will issue a show cause notice and based on the extent of the violation, action will be taken against them,” said a KSPCB official.

Later in the day, officials from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) Solid Waste Management department penalised a private clinic for dumping the waste.

“We have imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on the clinic for illegal disposal of BMW. Some of the medicines are from government hospitals and we are looking at government hospitals also in the area,” said a BBMP official.

According to KSPCB officials, under the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, every healthcare facility, whether private or government facility, is supposed to hand over BMW to common biomedical waste treatment facilities.

“Healthcare facilities are awarded the licence to operate only after they make agreements with common biomedical waste treatment facilities. This rule applies to every hospital and clinic. Strict action will be taken against those who have violated this rule,” said the official.

Hosakerehalli Lake rejuvenation on the cards
According to BBMP’s Lake Department, the rejuvenation work of Hosakerehalli Lake which was put on hold due to the rainy season will begin soon.

“Currently BBMP is constructing storm water drain connecting to the lake. Once their work is completed, we will resume lake rejuvenation. We will look into the mosquito menace complaint, which in all probability is due to raw sewage being discharged by an apartment complex in the area. We plan to construct a diversion canal and it will take care of the untreated sewage entering the water body,” said an official from the Lake Department.



The lake revival work was started by BBMP in May last year after many complaints were raised by the residents regarding the bad state of the lake. However, it came to a screeching halt immediately after due to the arrival of the rainy season.