Dumping of medical waste into ponds and river banks without proper disposal has been a recurring incident by few small hospitals.
Coimbatore: There are a number of small and large government and private hospitals operating in Coimbatore.
While there is a separate incineration center for the medical waste collected in these hospitals, private organizations are collecting and incinerating the medical waste from private hospitals for a fee. But in a few small private hospitals, dumping of medical waste into ponds and river banks without proper disposal has been a recurring incident.
Unidentified persons have dumped a large quantity of medical waste such as needles and medicine bottles on the roadside on the way to the Noyyal River near the Coimbatore Puttuvikki Bridge.
The public has demanded that the corporation administration take action against the private hospitals that dispose of medical waste dumped on the side of the road and dump medical waste in ponds and riverbanks.
Goats, cows, dogs and birds may eat the medical waste dumped on the road increasing risk of spread of coronavirus and there is also a risk of various diseases.