Cuttack: While the COVID-19 cases in the state are rising sharply, used personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and other bio-medical wastes were found dumped in the open near Pepsi road area at Jagatpur in Cuttack.
Reportedly, the waste, which includes used PPE kits, gloves and masks were seen lying along the road. The waste has been piling up and was spilling onto the passage from where several commuters move in the area which can further lead to the spread of the infection.
Besides, the banks of Mahanadi near Jagatpur New Industrial Area, where garbage and construction debris are dumped daily, has now turned into a spot for disposing off bio-medical waste, particularly Covid discards.
Improper handling of bio-medical waste in homes is increasing the Covid-19 threat fear experts, despite guidelines being made available for the same.
With discarded PPE kits, masks, gloves and items used to treat Covid-19 patients the risk of this biomedical waste infecting sanitation workers has also gone up.
Following this, Cuttack Barabati MLA, Mohammed Moquim tweeted to the CMC to look into this matter.
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Dumping of hazardous Covid bio-medical waste on Mahanadi river bed can turn to be highly dangerous for the denizens! The waste has also made its way into the river! Requesting @CMCCuttack & @AnanyaDasIAS ji to personally look into this on priority for the safety of the denizens? pic.twitter.com/pdfLC2EWz2
— Mohammed Moquim (@iammdmoquim) May 19, 2021
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