Governor directs PGI authorities to ensure compliance with fire safety protocol and protection of patients
Issues strict directions to comply with Solid Waste Management Rules and set up a wet waste processing plant as per BWG norms
The Voice of Chandigarh : Governor Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh,UT, Banwarilal Lal Purohit, directed the authorities of PGIMER to ensure the safety of patients and staff at PGI, the authorities must comply with the National Building Code (NBC) and instructions raised by the local civic body besides comply with Solid Waste Management Rules.
Taking serious note of the recent fire incidents at the PGI premises, a high level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Banwarilal Purohit, Governor, Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh at Secretariat building, Sector 9, Chandigarh, which was attended by the senior officers of Chandigarh Administration among Rajeev Verma, IAS, Adviser, Nitin Kumar Yadav, IAS, Home Secretary, Vijay Namdeo Rao Jade, IAS, Finance Secretary, Anindita Mitra, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Vinay Partap Singh, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, other senior officers, Engineers and Doctors of PGI, Senior officers of Administration and MC Chandigarh.
The Administrator directed the PGI authorities to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations and comply with the NBC norms and provide the necessary infrastructure on war footing level in the safeguard of patients and staff of PGI. He said that the PGI must conduct facility inspections, regularly train staff, maintain equipment, test evacuation plans, and enhance fire safety awareness.
He took note of the non-compliance of PGIMER engineering authorities, with directions issued by the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh. He said that it is very disappointing that many discrepancies were found during the inspection done by the fire & rescue services department of MCC and were communicated to the PGI authorities but nothing was done and even the PGI authorities had not bothered to obtain the Fire safety certificate.
According to the record available, the PGI authorities has obtained the Fire safety certificate for only one building out of total 17 buildings inside the PGI premises. The engineering department of the PGI had applied for the certificate in 2021 following which the Sector 11 fire station authorities had asked them to follow the fire safety guidelines as per the National Security Code. The fire department sent regular reminders to the authorities concerned at the PGI seeking update on the upgradation of fire safety process of the building but all in vain.
The Administrator further directed the PGI authorities to ensure the fire safety norms and compliance with Solid Waste Management rules as Bulk waste generator, a comprehensive review of safety protocols must be conducted with Municipal Commissioner after two months interval involving experts in fire safety and scientific disposal of healthcare waste. He directed for implementing regular fire safety drills, upgrading fire detection and suppression system and fostering a culture of safety awareness through training and accountability to mitigate risks and uphold regulatory standards, ensuring a secure environment for all within the institution.
He further directed the PGI authorities to take immediate action in the interest of public and conduct fire safety audits by external experts to identify and rectify lapses on war footing level.
The Administrator also directed the PGI authorities to comply the Solid Waste Management Rules as bulk waste generator. He was disappointed that the PGI authorities neither bother to segregate the healthcare waste from wet waste nor set up onsite wet waste processing plant. He directed the authorities to revamp the infrastructure to segregate the biomedical waste from the wet waste and set up a plant inside the premises immediately to avoid any kind of penal action taken by the local civic body.
He directed the concerned engineers of PGI to set up Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) immediately as per the norms and obtain consent under Water Act and Air Act being a hospital with more than 100 beds and generator of waste water of more than 100 KLD, which comes under Red category industry. The PGI authorities assured to make functional ETP by December, this year.
