PCB pulls up 97 hospitals over waste rules

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board has directed 97 healthcare establishments with over 100-beds capacity to submit bank guarantee within a week, assuring that they would conform to Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules. Located in Hyderabad, Warangal, Ranga Reddy and Karimnagar districts, these hospitals were found violating rules.

The directive was given during a hearing conducted by APPCB member-secretary Dana Kishore along with the Task Force Committee here on Saturday to review the compliance of these establishments with the Andhra Pradesh Environment Protection Act. Representatives of around 100 hospitals attended the meeting. The Pollution Control Board also asked hospitals operating without valid authorisations to apply for them within a week. Those operating without Consent for Operation, as required under the Water Act, were directed to apply within 15 days.

Huge treasure near AP Secretariat

A major treasure hunt is on opposite the state Secretariat and guesstimates put the treasure’s worth upward of Rs 20,000 crore.

Based on the affidavit, a team of officials from the Archaeology Department inspected the site on Saturday evening and decided to start excavating on Sunday morning in the presence of a mason, who will serve as a guide. Sources said the mason was the first person to have gone inside the tunnel where he saw two almirahs full of jewels and precious stones.