Inspectors feel toothless without provincial law
Say EPD can’t take action against hospitals disposing of waste improperly.
LAHORE:
Field officers of the Environment Protection Department (EPD) have not been taking punitive action against hospitals and clinics that dispose of waste improperly because, they say, the federal environmental law has expired with the devolution of the Environment Ministry.
“The Pakistan Environment Protection Act (PEPA) was rendered ineffective after June 30. The Punjab Assembly is yet to respond to a draft submitted by the EPD secretary to replace it,” said Younas Zahid, the deputy district officer. “This should have been dealt with by July 1,” he said.
A draft prepared by the legal wing of the EPD was submitted to the Cabinet in June. “For now, the field officers can survey the troubled spots but have to stay silent as no law permits action against those dirtying the environment. This is the best we can do,” he said.
Environment Secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiana argued that PEPA would remain in force until a new provincial law was drafted to replace it.
Poster campaign
Instead of handing out notices and fines, EPD officials have been handing out posters to labs, clinics and hospitals that violate rules for the proper disposal of waste that are laid out in the PEPA. Up to a thousand posters are to be distributed in Shadbagh and Shadman after a June survey found that 44 of 77 hospitals and clinics there were dumping waste unsorted and untreated in open spaces or in the drain.
There are two kinds of posters. One summarises the sorting and colour-coding of different types of waste, while the other talks about safe hygiene practices for handling equipment while examining patients. They have been handed to 11 clinics so far.
“No concept of colour-coding exists at most clinics. Nor do they burn infectious wastes. Circulating posters, in Urdu especially, might make some homeopaths and laboratory workers more careful about dumping chemical or infectious waste,” Younas said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2011.
Field officers of the Environment Protection Department (EPD) have not been taking punitive action against hospitals and clinics that dispose of waste improperly because, they say, the federal environmental law has expired with the devolution of the Environment Ministry.
“The Pakistan Environment Protection Act (PEPA) was rendered ineffective after June 30. The Punjab Assembly is yet to respond to a draft submitted by the EPD secretary to replace it,” said Younas Zahid, the deputy district officer. “This should have been dealt with by July 1,” he said.
A draft prepared by the legal wing of the EPD was submitted to the Cabinet in June. “For now, the field officers can survey the troubled spots but have to stay silent as no law permits action against those dirtying the environment. This is the best we can do,” he said.
Environment Secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiana argued that PEPA would remain in force until a new provincial law was drafted to replace it.
Poster campaign
Instead of handing out notices and fines, EPD officials have been handing out posters to labs, clinics and hospitals that violate rules for the proper disposal of waste that are laid out in the PEPA. Up to a thousand posters are to be distributed in Shadbagh and Shadman after a June survey found that 44 of 77 hospitals and clinics there were dumping waste unsorted and untreated in open spaces or in the drain.
There are two kinds of posters. One summarises the sorting and colour-coding of different types of waste, while the other talks about safe hygiene practices for handling equipment while examining patients. They have been handed to 11 clinics so far.
“No concept of colour-coding exists at most clinics. Nor do they burn infectious wastes. Circulating posters, in Urdu especially, might make some homeopaths and laboratory workers more careful about dumping chemical or infectious waste,” Younas said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2011.