Saturday 25 November 2017
Monday 6 November 2017
Cleaning up India's rivers by hybrid PPP in sewage treatment
For taking action to clean up the rivers in India, there has been a high decibel debate regarding sewage treatment plants (STPs). The idea became clear when the Central government gave the Supreme Court an 18-year plan to clean up the rivers of the country. One worrying aspect of the plan is that it seems strikingly similar to the plans that have been tried earlier. Such as preparing STPs, building crematoriums, and then cleaning up the ghats and riverfronts.
The latest move to innovatively shore up funding for sewage treatment plants at various places across the country, to begin with, needs to be wholeheartedly welcomed. The simple fact is that the vast bulk of sewage flowing from our towns and cities is just released untreated into rivers and water bodies. And we clearly need well-structured finance to boost resource allocation, and ensure performance, efficiency and sustainability in sewage treatment.
The STPs at various places across the country would be as per the so-called hybrid annuity public-private partnership (PPP) model, which has garnered significant funds for highway projects in the last three years or so. The way ahead is to float a special purpose vehicle under the Companies Act for each project, so as to enable transparency in governance, functional autonomy and, most importantly, the levy of reasonable user charges for effluent treatment, as per the polluter-pays principle.
There is vast scope to replicate the hybrid PPP model for sewage treatment all along the rivers of India. The plants would provide relatively risk-free returns over the long term, and so should be attractive to sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and other investors. The way forward is to have hybrid PPP in place for solid waste management in our large urban centres. In fast urbanising India, PPP for sewage and solid waste treatment is an idea whose time has come.
Under the Integrated Ganga River Conservation Mission, National Mission for Clean Ganga has sanctioned 87 projects worth Rs 12,684 crore for the development of 1,433 MLD sewage treatment infrastructure.
Namami Ganga Programme, in collaboration with the state government of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh has successfully designed and bid out the first two hybrid annuity projects in the cities of Haridwar and Varanasi.
The hybrid annuity PPP programme is now being rolled out in Mathura, Allahabad, Kanpur, Patna and Kolkata. The programme endeavours to integrate the existing/brown field sewage treatment infrastructure in these towns with the new Greenfield sewage treatment plants.
Besides establishing the sewage treatment plants, the contract is for their operation and maintenance for a period of 15 years. Subsequently, they will be handed over to the local bodies concerned. The model will serve as the template for similar projects all over the country.
While discussing the cleaning of the Yamuna some years ago, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that Delhi generated 2,500 million litres (mld) of sewage every day—that the DJB and CPCB have such divergent numbers tells its own story— as compared to the sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity of 2,330 mld.
Worse, just 35% of the STPs ran at full capacity, 18% ran at 60-90%, 24% at 30-60% and 23% at under 30%—where there were STPs, there was no waste and where there was waste, there was no STP.
One more face of dirty rivers is Ganga. As much as 43 per cent population of the country depends on it. About 3036 million liters per day (MLD) sewage is generated from 118 towns located in the main stream of Ganga. Only 50 per cent of the sewage is treated. The experts expect that the total sewage generated by 2035 would be 3719 MLD. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many poorer people rely on the river on a daily basis for bathing, washing, and cooking.
As per CPCB, 30 per cent of the STPs monitored in UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar and West Bengal are not operational and 94 per cent do not comply with the prescribed effluent standards.
But the question is that when our rivers will be cleaned up and can the government meet its targets?
A lot will depend on how soon the STPs are commissioned. On average, they will take about a year-and-a-half to work at their optimal capacity. The tanneries, a major polluter, will have to install new systems to ensure that no discharge leaches into the river. Given that several employ techniques that have not been tried on a large scale in Indian rivers, it is unclear how soon they will deliver results.
Moreover, a clean river also implies that it maintains minimum levels — called ecological flows — across all stretches of the river. This requires management on a larger scale, including controlling the several dams along the river that bring with them their own challenges.
The latest move to innovatively shore up funding for sewage treatment plants at various places across the country, to begin with, needs to be wholeheartedly welcomed. The simple fact is that the vast bulk of sewage flowing from our towns and cities is just released untreated into rivers and water bodies. And we clearly need well-structured finance to boost resource allocation, and ensure performance, efficiency and sustainability in sewage treatment.
The STPs at various places across the country would be as per the so-called hybrid annuity public-private partnership (PPP) model, which has garnered significant funds for highway projects in the last three years or so. The way ahead is to float a special purpose vehicle under the Companies Act for each project, so as to enable transparency in governance, functional autonomy and, most importantly, the levy of reasonable user charges for effluent treatment, as per the polluter-pays principle.
There is vast scope to replicate the hybrid PPP model for sewage treatment all along the rivers of India. The plants would provide relatively risk-free returns over the long term, and so should be attractive to sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and other investors. The way forward is to have hybrid PPP in place for solid waste management in our large urban centres. In fast urbanising India, PPP for sewage and solid waste treatment is an idea whose time has come.
Under the Integrated Ganga River Conservation Mission, National Mission for Clean Ganga has sanctioned 87 projects worth Rs 12,684 crore for the development of 1,433 MLD sewage treatment infrastructure.
Namami Ganga Programme, in collaboration with the state government of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh has successfully designed and bid out the first two hybrid annuity projects in the cities of Haridwar and Varanasi.
The hybrid annuity PPP programme is now being rolled out in Mathura, Allahabad, Kanpur, Patna and Kolkata. The programme endeavours to integrate the existing/brown field sewage treatment infrastructure in these towns with the new Greenfield sewage treatment plants.
Besides establishing the sewage treatment plants, the contract is for their operation and maintenance for a period of 15 years. Subsequently, they will be handed over to the local bodies concerned. The model will serve as the template for similar projects all over the country.
While discussing the cleaning of the Yamuna some years ago, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that Delhi generated 2,500 million litres (mld) of sewage every day—that the DJB and CPCB have such divergent numbers tells its own story— as compared to the sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity of 2,330 mld.
Worse, just 35% of the STPs ran at full capacity, 18% ran at 60-90%, 24% at 30-60% and 23% at under 30%—where there were STPs, there was no waste and where there was waste, there was no STP.
One more face of dirty rivers is Ganga. As much as 43 per cent population of the country depends on it. About 3036 million liters per day (MLD) sewage is generated from 118 towns located in the main stream of Ganga. Only 50 per cent of the sewage is treated. The experts expect that the total sewage generated by 2035 would be 3719 MLD. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many poorer people rely on the river on a daily basis for bathing, washing, and cooking.
As per CPCB, 30 per cent of the STPs monitored in UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar and West Bengal are not operational and 94 per cent do not comply with the prescribed effluent standards.
But the question is that when our rivers will be cleaned up and can the government meet its targets?
A lot will depend on how soon the STPs are commissioned. On average, they will take about a year-and-a-half to work at their optimal capacity. The tanneries, a major polluter, will have to install new systems to ensure that no discharge leaches into the river. Given that several employ techniques that have not been tried on a large scale in Indian rivers, it is unclear how soon they will deliver results.
Moreover, a clean river also implies that it maintains minimum levels — called ecological flows — across all stretches of the river. This requires management on a larger scale, including controlling the several dams along the river that bring with them their own challenges.
IFAT India 2017: Solutions to environmental challenges
Mumbai, October 10, 2017: IFAT India 2017 was held at the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre, Goregaon from 26th to 28th September 2017 that brought together local and international representatives from associations and, state governments, industry leaders and leading companies to highlight and discuss challenges and solutions in the water, sewage, refuse and recycling sector.
IFAT India 2017 was inaugurated by Shri Vijay Shivtare, Water Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Ms Ann Ollestad, Consul General, The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Ms. Ulrika Sundberg, Sweden Consul General, Mr. Roland Knitschky, German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) among other industry players.
IFAT India is India's leading trade fair for water, waste water, waste and recycling. The trade show provided an enormous platform to industry experts, policy makers and business leaders to discuss regional strategies on numerous environmental challenges and seek solutions through formal interactions.
IFAT India 2017 was a three- day trade show which saw over 184 participants from 18 countries. Some of the top participants included market leaders like L&T, Thermax, Ion Exchange, Ramky, Aqseptance Group, Endress+Hauser, Excel, Kirloskar Brothers, Kishor Pumps, Tata Projects, Wilo, Siemens, Lanxess, Astral Poly, Xylem, CRI Pumps, LG Chem, Wipro Water and many more. China, Germany, Austria and Switzerland were the few international country pavilions that were featured in the 2017 edition.
On the conclusion of IFAT India 2017, Mr. Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe Muenchen India, said, “India has an immense potential for environmental protection and waste management. Scarce water resources, rapid industrialization, extensive agriculture and enormous waste volumes pose a great challenge to the country. Thus, the 5th edition of IFAT India focussed on the latest environmental issues and their solutions. IFAT India 2017 also provided a platform for all the industry players, associations and government representatives, to connect through formal interactions. We saw a great response from national and international participants and we hope to keep delivering a better trade show every year.”
The trade fair witnessed technical presentations, panel discussions and tutorials, where industry experts – both from India and overseas –who shared their knowledge with the audience at the Innovation Exchange. There was also a dedicated area for training, live demonstrations, product presentations and skills contests, running parallel to the show.
The Products in Practice session provided exhibitors with a unique interactive way to showcase their product highlights. The innovations were presented in a realistic working situation and thereby impressed the visitors with an eye-catching experience.
The Active Learning Centre was a new platform successfully introduced to the participants of IFAT India 2016 that was continued in 2017. This was the interactive element of the event. It offered innovative ways to network with both visitors and other experts of the environmental technologies sector.
Along with the trade exhibition IFAT INDIA with its partners concurrently organized multiple interactive programs, to name a few - Air Quality Management Workshop by SDG (Sustainable Development Goals Foundation); Workshop on entrepreneurship in waste management by ISWA (International Solid Waste Association); Biogas Panel by GIZ, German Biogas Association and Indian Biogas Association; Water Skills Competition by Skill Council for Green Jobs, GIZ and DWA.
IFAT INDIA hosted an Environmental Technologies Conference in association with TERI, which focused on issues related to Air Pollution, Solid Waste Management and Urban Water Management in the context of Sustainable Development. This edition witness a new initiative Business to Government Forum which provides states an ideal platform to announce new projects, to find matching solutions for new tenders and to inform participants about the latest policies in the environmental sector.
IFAT India 2017 was inaugurated by Shri Vijay Shivtare, Water Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Ms Ann Ollestad, Consul General, The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Ms. Ulrika Sundberg, Sweden Consul General, Mr. Roland Knitschky, German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) among other industry players.
IFAT India is India's leading trade fair for water, waste water, waste and recycling. The trade show provided an enormous platform to industry experts, policy makers and business leaders to discuss regional strategies on numerous environmental challenges and seek solutions through formal interactions.
IFAT India 2017 was a three- day trade show which saw over 184 participants from 18 countries. Some of the top participants included market leaders like L&T, Thermax, Ion Exchange, Ramky, Aqseptance Group, Endress+Hauser, Excel, Kirloskar Brothers, Kishor Pumps, Tata Projects, Wilo, Siemens, Lanxess, Astral Poly, Xylem, CRI Pumps, LG Chem, Wipro Water and many more. China, Germany, Austria and Switzerland were the few international country pavilions that were featured in the 2017 edition.
On the conclusion of IFAT India 2017, Mr. Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe Muenchen India, said, “India has an immense potential for environmental protection and waste management. Scarce water resources, rapid industrialization, extensive agriculture and enormous waste volumes pose a great challenge to the country. Thus, the 5th edition of IFAT India focussed on the latest environmental issues and their solutions. IFAT India 2017 also provided a platform for all the industry players, associations and government representatives, to connect through formal interactions. We saw a great response from national and international participants and we hope to keep delivering a better trade show every year.”
The trade fair witnessed technical presentations, panel discussions and tutorials, where industry experts – both from India and overseas –who shared their knowledge with the audience at the Innovation Exchange. There was also a dedicated area for training, live demonstrations, product presentations and skills contests, running parallel to the show.
The Products in Practice session provided exhibitors with a unique interactive way to showcase their product highlights. The innovations were presented in a realistic working situation and thereby impressed the visitors with an eye-catching experience.
The Active Learning Centre was a new platform successfully introduced to the participants of IFAT India 2016 that was continued in 2017. This was the interactive element of the event. It offered innovative ways to network with both visitors and other experts of the environmental technologies sector.
Along with the trade exhibition IFAT INDIA with its partners concurrently organized multiple interactive programs, to name a few - Air Quality Management Workshop by SDG (Sustainable Development Goals Foundation); Workshop on entrepreneurship in waste management by ISWA (International Solid Waste Association); Biogas Panel by GIZ, German Biogas Association and Indian Biogas Association; Water Skills Competition by Skill Council for Green Jobs, GIZ and DWA.
IFAT INDIA hosted an Environmental Technologies Conference in association with TERI, which focused on issues related to Air Pollution, Solid Waste Management and Urban Water Management in the context of Sustainable Development. This edition witness a new initiative Business to Government Forum which provides states an ideal platform to announce new projects, to find matching solutions for new tenders and to inform participants about the latest policies in the environmental sector.
Water safety an uphill task due to improper functioning of STPs
Drug Today Medical TimesThe availability of clean drinking water remains a big challenge in India due to various factors including contaminated water flowing into Indian rivers. This is largely due to dumping of industrial effluents and untreated sewage in the rivers. Several Indian states are now grappling with the crisis of contaminated water.Conversion of this water into clean water also remains an uphill task due to lack of, and improper functioning of, Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) across all cities. This untreated water flows in rivers, lakes and ground water, thus making it contaminated. Usage of this water can lead severe health implications.
There are alarming figures that indicate if we do not solve water problems we may have a huge water crisis in coming years.
It is reported that around 70 per cent of sewage remains untreated, resulting in huge wastage of water that could be used after its purification through various methods.
It is understood that 62,000 million liters per day (MLD) sewage is generated in urban areas, while the treatment capacity across India is only 23,277 MLD, or 37 per cent of sewage generated.
According to government data released in December 2015, 816 municipal STPs are listed across India. Out of 816, only 522 SPTs work. So, of 62,000 MLD, the listed capacity is 23,277 MLD but no more than 18,883 MLD of sewage is actually treated. It means that seventy per cent of swage generated in India is not treated.
The sewage in class 1 and class 2 towns is estimated at 38,255 MLD, of which only 11,787 MLD (30%) is treated. This has been revealed in Faecal Sludge Management report, by Water Aid, a safe-water sanitation advocacy. The report revealed that untreated sewage is dumped directly into water bodies, polluting three-fourth of India’s surface water resources.
The Indian Government too admits the dysfunctional STPs are big problem in India. In November, 2014, then Environment minister Prakash Javadekar informed the media that around 70 percent of STPs in India are either not working or closed because the cost of running these plants is so high. He said that they need to make use of sludge and produce methane gas, which can generate power for these STPs.
It is important to know that those near sewage problems can experience severe health implications as complications like vomiting, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, blood infection, dehydration, kidney dysfunction and urinary infection are clear risks.
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Monday 16 October 2017
Ghazipur landfill: a ticking bomb
The two deaths recently due to collapse of major portions of Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill on passerby has instilled major fear among the residents of Ghazipur dairy farm and nearby colonies. The landfill, which has already caused major damage to the health of the residents, has now become a nightmare for the residents. They are living in great fear now.
The residents have urged government and civic agencies to urgently remove the landfill from Ghazipur so that more damage can be averted.
The resident inform that this landfill has caused diseases including cancer, respiratory diseases such as TB and asthma and even skin problems due to its filth, foul stink and smoke over the last 30 years. The landfill gives out methane gas and other chemicals which results in major fires and blasts at the dumping site.
The residents complain that the groundwater has also been polluted due to the landfill. The consumption of this polluted groundwater has resulted in rampant gastric ailments among residents. The current Delhi government has neglected this area. There is no government clinic here.
“Why there is no Mohalla clinic in the Ghazipur dairy farm. Are we not humans? There is no government facility in the entire area where we can consult the doctors. Even the private doctors are just for name's sake,” rued the residents. The two small clinics were found closed when this correspondent went through the Ghazipur farm.
Sanjeev, a resident of Ghazipur dairy farm, said that his wife is pregnant and doctors have instructed him to shift his wife somewhere else from Ghazipur as there could be major health complications to the child and his mother. “I have shifted my wife to her parental home as doctors have strictly warned against her staying in Ghazipur,” added Sanjeev.
He informed that Ghazipur is also a harmful place for newborns and kids. He said that two deaths due to fall of a portion of the landfill has instilled more fear among residents. “Those who have money are migrating from here to other areas of Delhi and those who do not have are forced to live here. They are left with no option but to inhale the polluted air caused by landfill and invite more diseases,” explained Sanjeev.
Mohit, a young student said that his own grandfather has died of cancer and people are not marrying their daughter into the Ghazipur area. The landfill has become the identity of this area. Mohit said there is no mohalla clinic in this area which hurts most. “It feels that we are not living in Delhi,” added Mohit.
Waste segregation is just not there
Rohit Shishodia
The lack of segregation of waste has been a matter of concern for a long time in metropolitan cities. If waste is not segregated, it keeps piling up on roads and garbage collection centers. Non-segregation and non-collection badly impacts the health of citizens due to the foul smell emanating from it.
Delhi-NCR has been badly affected by garbage dumping. The dumping yards generally known as landfills pose risk of serious health ailments such as respiratory diseases and gastric problems.
But presently there seems to be no solution as there is no implementation of waste segregation either in housing societies or in government offices. Generally people are not aware about waste segregation. The waste segregation drive was launched in June 2017 by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).
The motive of the project was to make people aware about biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste which should be put in different colored dust bins. It has been more than three months since the project was launched but municipal and Delhi government-run institutes are themselves not implementing the initiative, not to speak of the general public.
Dr Gaynesh Gupta, Senior Medical Officer of Swami Daya Nand (SDN) Hospital, East Delhi, informed that SDN hospital itself is yet to fully implement the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste segregation initiative. Dr Gupta asserted that the hospital will fully implement the important initiative in coming months.
What is more surprising is that EDMC’s own headquarter which launched the project is not implementing biodegradable and non-biodegradable wasdte segregation initiative? The health official deputed there informed that there is no such initiative being implemented in EDMC headquarters.
General public is also now aware about such a move. An elderly woman, residing in Delhi’s Moujpur colony, North-East Delhi, informed that she never heard about segregating biodegradable waste.
Kusum Tomar, Municipal Councilor, Babarpur, East Delhi, informed that she learnt about the usage of different colored dustbins for segregation of waste but that is not being implemented in her area. She informed that she is not aware about any such drive of waste segregation being launched.
It is not just East Delhi but residents of South Delhi are also not aware about any waste segregation. Mr Mahendra Singh living in Sangam Vihar says the waste is not lifted from their houses not to speak of waste segregation.
Mr Pradeep Khandelwal, Chief Engineer, Dams, EDMC, told DTMT that waste segregation drive is under progress. He informed that the people are being made aware about waste segregation in Preet Vihar. Later the corporation's drive will be launched in Mayur Vihar’s all phases.
The lack of segregation of waste has been a matter of concern for a long time in metropolitan cities. If waste is not segregated, it keeps piling up on roads and garbage collection centers. Non-segregation and non-collection badly impacts the health of citizens due to the foul smell emanating from it.
Delhi-NCR has been badly affected by garbage dumping. The dumping yards generally known as landfills pose risk of serious health ailments such as respiratory diseases and gastric problems.
But presently there seems to be no solution as there is no implementation of waste segregation either in housing societies or in government offices. Generally people are not aware about waste segregation. The waste segregation drive was launched in June 2017 by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).
The motive of the project was to make people aware about biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste which should be put in different colored dust bins. It has been more than three months since the project was launched but municipal and Delhi government-run institutes are themselves not implementing the initiative, not to speak of the general public.
Dr Gaynesh Gupta, Senior Medical Officer of Swami Daya Nand (SDN) Hospital, East Delhi, informed that SDN hospital itself is yet to fully implement the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste segregation initiative. Dr Gupta asserted that the hospital will fully implement the important initiative in coming months.
What is more surprising is that EDMC’s own headquarter which launched the project is not implementing biodegradable and non-biodegradable wasdte segregation initiative? The health official deputed there informed that there is no such initiative being implemented in EDMC headquarters.
General public is also now aware about such a move. An elderly woman, residing in Delhi’s Moujpur colony, North-East Delhi, informed that she never heard about segregating biodegradable waste.
Kusum Tomar, Municipal Councilor, Babarpur, East Delhi, informed that she learnt about the usage of different colored dustbins for segregation of waste but that is not being implemented in her area. She informed that she is not aware about any such drive of waste segregation being launched.
It is not just East Delhi but residents of South Delhi are also not aware about any waste segregation. Mr Mahendra Singh living in Sangam Vihar says the waste is not lifted from their houses not to speak of waste segregation.
Mr Pradeep Khandelwal, Chief Engineer, Dams, EDMC, told DTMT that waste segregation drive is under progress. He informed that the people are being made aware about waste segregation in Preet Vihar. Later the corporation's drive will be launched in Mayur Vihar’s all phases.
Prevention better than cure for garbage in the cities
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| Dr. Parinita Kaur, Consultant, Internal Medicine |
India produces about 1.5 lakh tonnes of waste everyday, not too much compared to global levels. What makes it hazardous is the fact that we are unable to segregate kitchen and recyclable waste. There is absence of marked garbage bins on streets. There is little mass education and awareness of benefits of cleanliness. There is no implementation of strict laws to deal with defaulters.
In India, most states’ municipalities are just dumping garbage in landfills, which are themselves almost always unscientifically developed and used in most careless manner.
Speaking to Drug Today Medical Times (DTMT), Dr Arun Sharma, Professor, Community Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, said, “The by-product of this untreated mess is pollution, groundwater pollution as well as air pollution. One fifth of India’s methane generation is just because of garbage.”
He said, “It is well recognized that untreated garbage gathers water which breeds dengue, chikungunia and other disease causing mosquitoes. Further, poisonous gases leaking from these garbage hills also cause breathing problems.”
Dr. Parinita Kaur, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Aakash Healthcare, says “Garbage is the term used for rubbish or waste, especially domestic refuse. The biggest problem that India faces is the non segregation of waste, despite regulations from the Government regarding proper waste disposal. Ideally, the kitchen waste and the recyclable waste should be disposed in separate bags or containers for effective waste handling and recycling. But this is not what is being followed.
She further said, “Apart from this, the waste from small scale Industries is also dumped on roadsides, open grounds or landfills. This can contain hazardous substances which can lead to contamination of soil and groundwater, as well as produce poisonous inhalational gases. The contaminated soil becomes infertile for vegetation to grow. On the other hand, the humans get exposed to contaminated groundwater by ingestion of plant or animal products exposed to such water. Such water is also unfit for drinking and bathing purposes. Also, it poses risk to the flora and fauna of the surroundings.”
Ashish Jain, the founder of Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA) has a mission of improving standards of living in India with a focus on solid waste management and rainwater harvesting. With as many as 100,000 homes sending garbage to IPCA for vermi-composting, and a daily growing roster of costumers, Jain’s creepy crawly subjects are always working over time.
In a sidelines of a recently held Air-o-Thon conference in New Delhi, he told DTMT, “50% of the generated garbage is fit for composting and 30% is recyclable; which means that only 20% should reach the landfill. Building new landfills are not the solution. Apart from the fact that they are dangerous and dumping garbage like in Ghazipur landfill site causes the leaching of dangerous chemicals into the soil, it would be unfair to citizens of that neighbourhood to export the city’s garbage to their locality.”
He argues, “Commitment and discipline from both the municipal corporations and the residents is needed to successfully implement segregation of waste at source to reduce the amount of garbage that arrives at landfills.”
He said, “What we always fail in doing, though, is to segregate garbage at our home between biodegradable and non biodegradable. We don’t throw garbage in designated spots or in designated bins, and we never say no to polythene bags. We also barely bat an eyelid before throwing fruits peel, or plastic bags on sides of roads, oblivious of the fact that these all contribute to the foul odour and unpleasant sight that we so hate.”
More than a year after the notification of the much-delayed Solid Waste Management Rules, cities and towns are in no position to comply with its stipulations, beginning with the segregation of different kinds of waste at source and their scientific processing.
Prashant Gargava, additional director, Central Pollution Control Board said there is a need for technical capacity-building for which state boards need training and which the pollution control board is eager to arrange.
On the lacunae the state boards are facing in implementing waste management rules, Gargava highlighted the need to meet manpower and fund requirements and technical capabilities.
"These are some of the shortcomings and we will resolve them. New rules have already come and in order to implement them, we need to educate the people," Gargava said.
We have decided we will identify the training needs of the states and organise a specific programme through our regional offices around the country," Gargava said.
Gargava further said, "We were told that many states have done a lot of work in terms of plastic waste management. A request was made to all the states to share their good practices with other states so they can follow the project."
He said a series of workshops will be organised to educate and make people aware of the new rules of waste management, mandates and responsibilities.
A new paradigm is needed, in which bulk waste generators take the lead and city managers show demonstrable change in the way it is processed.
Half-hearted efforts have been made to segregate waste at source and to create waste to energy plants within all landfills. There has been no real change in the way that many states including Delhi, Haryana and Punjab deal with the problem of waste management.
Saturday 14 October 2017
Monday 9 October 2017
Friday 29 September 2017
Thursday 28 September 2017
Friday 22 September 2017
Thursday 21 September 2017
Friday 1 September 2017
Fortis Surgeons Create Pharyngeal tube with part of small intestine
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| Dr Surender Dabas, Director, Head, Neck and Thoracic Surgical Oncology |
NEW DELHI: Vimla Devi had squamous cell carcinoma in the laryngeal region. The goal of the reconstruction was to protect the carotid artery and to restore speech and swallowing in the patient impacted by the tumour.
By taking a part of her small intestine and creating a new pharyngeal tube with it, the surgeons at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, proved to be life savers for Vimla Devi from Rohtak.
The patient got a fresh lease of life after undergoing an over 12-hour operation on August 14, 2017, for removal of a malignant neck tumour.
Speaking to DTMT, the Hospital claimed the surgery was a "first of its kind" in North India.
Bimla Devi, 58, who was earlier treated in Rohtak hospital was brought to the Fortis Hospital at Shalimar Bagh in a state of complete weakness and was being fed through an external apparatus as she had extreme trouble swallowing and breathing, doctors said.
An endoscopy and biopsy were performed proving the presence of a squamous cell carcinoma in the laryngeal region or hypopharynx. She had previously undergone treatment with radiation followed by eight cycles of palliative chemotherapy which had resulted in absolute dysphagia.
Dr Surender Dabas, Director (Head, Neck and Thoracic Surgical Oncology) told DTMT, "After reviewing her case, we decided to perform a total laryngopharyngectomy and reconstruction of pharyngeal tube with a free jejunal flap. Post the surgery the patient was kept on ventilator support for two days."
He said that the post-operative period was uneventful and smooth.
In this case, it was a post-cricoid carcinoma, her food pipe and windpipe that were affected, were removed," he said.
Dr Dabas stated, “ Pharyngoesophageal reconstruction requires great attention to detail, and there is no room for error. The ultimate goals of reconstruction are to provide protection of important structures such as the carotid artery, and restoration of funcctions such as speech and swallowing.”
"Vimla Devi is stable and kept under surveillance in the high-dependency unit. She would be discharged in next week," he said.
Mr Mahipal Bhanot, Director of the hospital, commended Dr Dabas and said: "It is with his positive and can-do attitude that even the most hopeless cases develop a silver lining and can be treated."
6.2 crore Indians suffer visual impairment: AIIMS
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| Dr Atul Kumar, Chief, RP Centre, AIIMS, Delhi |
Consumption of steroids, tobacco use and even the use of smart phones among children contribute to blindness and visual impairment. Some 80 lakh Indians are totally blind.
Experts have expressed concern over the increasing visual impairment in India. They inform that around 6.2 crore people in India are living with visual impairment.
Out of these 6.2 crore, 20 per cent or 80 lakh people, are blind. It is estimated that India carries 20 per cent burden of blindness of the entire globe.
Dr Atul Kumar, Chief, RP Centre, AIIMS, Delhi, pointed out that a major awareness campaign among the masses is needed to arrest the march of visual impairment and blindness in elderly population and young children.
Dr Kumar informed that disease like diabetes, BP and poor lifestyle contribute to the occurrence of visual impairment. “Diabetes impacts the eyes around ten years after its occurrence. Therefore, people should go for regular eye check-up and consume green vegetables to avoid eye disorders due to other diseases,” added Dr Kumar.
Dr Kumar revealed that consumption of steroids also results in eye diseases. “Around 20 per cent of young children have blindness due to consumption of steroids. Over the counter availability of steroids must be stopped. Steroids cause glaucoma,” explained Dr Kumar.
Dr Praveen Vashist, Professor and Head-Community Ophthalmology at AIIMS-Delhi, says that cataract is the biggest cause of blindness in India. “Thereafter, it is retina which causes blindness. 65 lakh surgeries of cataract are conducted in India,” said Dr Vashist.
Dr Vashist informed that tobacco consumption is one of the major factors which contribute to blindness. “Tobacco consumption impacts the nerves of the patients which also causes blindness. Smart phones also result in visual impairment in kids of very young age. Parents must educate and keep their children away from smart phones,” explained Dr Vashist.
He informed Delhi-AIIMS is conducting a study in Delhi’s Trilokpuri area on 20,000 children to ascertain the number of kids suffering from visual impairment and the causes of the same.
Delhi Govt.'s lab technicians hold protest march
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| Delhi lab technicians holding protest march |
NEW DELHI: The technicians have warned that the protest will be intensified if their demands, including the implementation of 7th CPC recommendations, are not accepted.
Demanding implementation of the 7th pay commission recommendations and immediate cadre restructuring, hundreds of medical lab technicians employed in Delhi Government hospitals gathered outside the GB Pant Hospital on September 1, 2017, and took out a protest march to the office of the Dean, Maulana Azad Medical College, and staged a 'dharna' there.
After submitting memorandum, the workers warned of a continuous protest-cum-pen-down-strike from September 6, 2017, in case their demands are not met.
The protesting technicians, under the banner of Indian Medical Laboratory Technologist Federation, had handed over a memorandum to Delhi chief minister Arnind Kejriwal last month warning of a pen-down strike over their long pending issues.
"The response of the Delhi government on our pending issues has been highly disappointing. We met almost every concerned officer, from health secretary to chief secretary and health minister to chief minister many times but we could not find any appropriate solution to our demands,” Pooja Saini, chairperson of the federation and one of the agitators said.
One hospital bed per 2,046 people in India: Govt. report
Against the WHO guideline of a hospital bed for every 500 people, Bihar has a hospital bed per more than eight thousand people.
The healthcare services in India are running against the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in terms of patient: hospital bed ratio. According to the National Health Profile (NHP) report, 2017, published by India’s health ministry online, there is only one hospital bed available per two thousand people in government hospitals. According to WHO guidelines, there should be one bed available for 500 people.
The situation is even more adverse for people who need treatment in northern states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The report reveals that there is only one bed available for more than eight thousand people in Bihar, while in Uttar Pradesh, there is one bed for more than three thousand people.
In Haryana, there is one bed available for around 3,427 people, in Arunachal Pradesh, there is one bed for 3,819 people, in Jharkhand one bed for 3,079 people and in Delhi there is one bed for 824 people.
The states which fare well and fulfill the WHO guidelines are Sikkim, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry.
The abysmal lack of hospital beds against the number of patients in India is quite worrisome. It may take years to improve the ratio between the availability of beds and patients unless concrete efforts are made to improve the infrastructure.
Sept. 6-10, 2017: WHO meet of S-E Asian health ministers
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| Amitabh Bachchan during World Hepatitis Day meeting |
NEW DELHI: The main focus of the conference will be on climate change
Building health systems resilient to climate change, improving access to vital drugs for all and increasing efforts to end tuberculosis are among key topics that will be discussed at a World Health Organisation (WHO) conference of health ministers of the South-East Asia Region from September 6-10, 2017.
According to a WHO statement, the 70th regional committee conference of WHO South-East Asia Region will be hosted by Maldives.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom and regional director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh will address the conference which will also be attended by health officials from member countries and delegates of partner institutes.
WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis in South-East Asia Region, Amitabh Bachchan, will join the conference to support urgent action against viral hepatitis, an avoidable disease that kills around 410000 in the region annually.
Increasing primary health care and growth towards universal health coverage are among other key issues being addressed at the conference.
"Main focus of the conference will be climate change - on how to make health systems resilient to climate change. A well prepared and responsive health scheme is vital for preventing and minimizing the rising health menaces posed by climate change," the statement said.
The conference will also analyse new progress on key schemes and discuss plans to maintain the health of people in WHO South-East Asia Region.
Amend Pharmacy Act: IPA urges IPC
The Indian Pharmacists association, on the strength of a Supreme Court ruling, is demanding that non-qualified persons must be barred from entering the pharma profession.
The Indian Pharmacists Association (IPA) has urged the Indian Pharma Council (IPC) to amend the Pharmacy Act after a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of India.
The apex court in July 2017, ruled about introduction of various changes in the pharmacy act including that only qualified pharmacists can enter the pharma profession. The IPA has also written to Indian health minister JP Nadda in the matter.
Mr Bhupendra Kumar, Secretary General, IPA, told DTMT that individuals who are unqualified and do not possess any degree or diploma are illegally engaged in the pharma profession.
“They are harming the profession and endangering the lives of patients by giving various medicines without having any knowledge about them. We have written a letter to IPC to amend the pharmacy act so that only qualified pharmacist can practice the pharma profession,” informed Mr Kumar.
The IPA, in a statement, said that the Supreme Court ruled that any person who does not satisfy the qualifications as per the education regulations shall not be entitled to seek any entry in the pharmacy register.
The IPA mentioned that at present there are some lacunae in the Pharmacy Act which has been misused by a number of uneducated individuals. “Non pharma person or quacks, finding discrepancies in the pharmacy act, are making a mockery of Pharma Council of India, government and drug control department,” added IPA.
The IPA pointed out that these quacks are fatal for the health of the common man as pharmacy is a scientific profession and it requires detailed study of pharmacy subjects.
The IPA has demanded that IPC abolish all pharmacy tribunals and cancel registration of unqualified individuals who are practicing pharmacy.
The other demands include amendment in section 11, 30 and 32 of the Pharmacy Act, removal of section 14 of pharmacy act and cancellation of registration of 8,940 non-pharmacist persons in Jharkhand and some in Chhattisgarh.
Umaid hospital video: Baby alive, says Rajasthan Govt.
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| Umaid hospital Rajasthan |
The Rajasthan government has acknowledged that two doctors were quarreling in the operation theater of the Umaid Hospital while the C-section delivery was in progress. However, it stated that both the baby and the mother are doing fine. The video of the doctors quarreling with each other had gone viral on social media sites.
The Rajasthan government has said that the baby that was reported dead in the Operation Theater in Umaid hospital where doctors were quarreling, is actually alive.
In a statement, the state government has said that various newspapers and news channels have wrongly shown that the baby died in the video where Dr Ashok Nainwal, an obstetrician, and Dr ML Tak, an anesthetist, started quarreling amidst the c-section surgery. The state government has said that the baby and the mother are doing fine.
The Rajasthan government has informed that both of the doctors have been suspended for their highly uncalled for and inhuman attitude in the operation theater where they started shouting at each other.
It also informed that it has constituted a panel headed by the upper district magistrate which will submit its report in the matter by September 2, 2017.
IGMPI wins ASSOCHAM Services Excellence Award-2017 in Education
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| Excellence Award-2017 |
The Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices-India (IGMPI) has been conferred the ‘Best Education Provider’ award in the Education and Consulting category at the ASSOCHAM Annual Mega Summit.
The Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices-India (IGMPI) has been conferred the ‘Best Education Provider’ award in the Education and Consulting category at the ASSOCHAM Annual Mega Summit. The award was presented by Member of Parliament Dr. Udit Raj.
This prestigious award felicitates institutions that have been successful in providing quality service to its customers. The annual flagship event of ASSOCHAM, the diamond rated industry chamber of the country recognized excellent service providers that have been performing brilliantly over the years while maintaining consistent delivery of services.
IGMPI has been felicitated keeping in mind its fundamentally strong and resilient education and knowledge dissemination model including efforts made by the IGMPI in imparting education to research scholars and industry professionals. The Institute’s ‘Programme Feedback Procedure’, a feedback process to enhance quality standards, gave it an edge.
Mr. Syed S. Abbas, Director, IGMPI said “At IGMPI, we have innovated a unique model of education that has a tangible social impact. We believe in adopting holistic approach towards knowledge dissemination and deliver quality services to generate skilled professionals who are industry ready to perform their tasks with great precision in the areas of Pharmaceuticals, Food and Healthcare."
IGMPI is moving hand in hand with technology advances and has gained recognition as a global accredited training provider for Pharmaceutical, Food and healthcare professionals and fresh pass outs.
No Typhoid Vaccines in Delhi's Government Hospitals
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| Typhoid Vaccines |
Poor children in Delhi are going without typhoid vaccination because no government hospital has been supplied typhoid vaccines for the last one year or so. This vaccination is supposed to be free. The poor can not afford the exorbitant cost of vaccination in private facilities.
Full and free immunization against typhoid for children seems to be a huge challenge in Delhi as the typhoid vaccine to be administered to children from two to five years age is unavailable in the national capital's government hospitals for almost one full year.
This has been revealed by a senior doctor and officials deputed in the government dispensaries and hospitals in Delhi.
The non-availability of typhoid vaccine is impeding the vaccination program in Delhi.Though the cost of the typhoid vaccine is not much, getting it administrated in private clinics is a costly affair for the poor.
Many a times, children miss this important vaccine due to its non-availability. Missing one or the other dose can lead to major health complications for the children now or in the future.
Doctors deputed in various governmental health institutions inform that the typhoid vaccine has not been available for almost one year in the national capital. All Delhi government and MCD-run dispensaries do not have a single typhoid vaccine, forcing children to go without vaccination.
This has caused major convenience to the parents of children who cannot afford to buy the vaccine from the chemists. Parul, a resident of East Delhi and a mother of a two-year-old daughter, says that she has been taking rounds of dispensaries for the typhoid vaccine and she cannot afford have the vaccine administered in a private clinic due to financial constraints.
She has been advised by the dispensary doctor to get her daughter vaccinated from a private doctor. She says that not just typhoid vaccines, but many other vaccines such as MMR are also not available in the dispensary. There are many people like Parul who are facing the same problem.
The non-availability of the typhoid vaccine for one year exposes the Delhi government’s negligence. What is more surprising is that it may take several months to start the supply of typhoid vaccine in Delhi. It may be noted that not getting vaccination is one of the reasons for the increasing number of deaths in children in India.
Dr Suresh Seth, Senior official, Directorate of Family Welfare, Delhi, admitted that the typhoid vaccine is not available in Delhi. He said that the tender for getting the typhoid vaccine has been finalized and the technical bid will be finalized within a few days. “Some other modalities will also be finalized within a few days. After two months, the typhoid vaccine will be made available in Delhi", added Dr Seth.
DMC report blames firm for disrupting oxygen supply to Delhi hospital
NEW DELHI: The disruption in oxygen supply in the Delhi hospital in 2012 had killed five patients who were on ventilator. Now the DMC has said after five years that the Oxygen supplying firm is to be blamed and the doctors were not at fault.
The report of a long-drawn inquiry by the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) made public on August 30, 2017, has held the AMC company responsible for disrupting oxygen supply to the Sushrut Trauma Centre on December 4, 2012, due to which five patients died in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The report, presented after five years of the tragedy, said that there was no medical negligence on the part of doctors in the matter.
However, DMC Registrar, Dr Girish Tyagi, told DTMT that unfortunately lives were lost, due to administrative lapses. Hence, the Delhi government is requested to fix accountability and to initiate corrective measures to prevent such incidents from happening in future.
“The oxygen supplier firm AMC company had disrupted oxygen supply for which it is responsible, which it should not have done keeping in mind its life-saving job,” the DMC found.
“Disruption of the oxygen supply was a lapse on the part of the company, who was responsible to provide the continuous supply of oxygen. After which two doctors along with nursing staff called other doctors and nurses from operation theater etc. and managed/resuscitated all the patients and performed their duties with proper care and skill. All the five patients in question were on ventilators and critically ill, suffering from neuro-surgical problems with poor prognosis”, said the report.
Saturday 19 August 2017
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