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.
has been discharging untreated sewage from a pumping station on the GRH campus
into the river for many years. Despite the presence of a sewage treatment plant
on the GRH premises, it is reportedly not functioning properly due to
insufficient power supply. The petitioner asserts that the situation is
hazardous, rendering the water unfit for consumption and posing a risk of
groundwater contamination.
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.
