Only three out of the total of 20 government hospitals in Karnataka adhere to effluent treatment norms. As per the State Pollution Control Board norms, it is a mandatory requirement to have effluent treatment plants (ETPs) for hospitals above 100 beds. But the reality is that only National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health and Leprosy Hospital have fully functional ETPs set up within their campuses.

The Lok Adalat has ordered the closure of the hospitals which do not comply with the State Pollution Control Board norms and many of the centres have sought time till May 2009 to set up ETPs in their campuses. Seven of the government hospitals which come under the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare have submitted their action plan to the Lok Adalat regarding the setting of ETPs in their premises.

In this regard, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has received application from another five more hospitals to approve their ETP plan. These are KC General Hospital and Jayanagar General Hospital which have allocated Rs 85 lakh each for the project. The HSIS Ghoshya Hospital has also issued work orders to set up a permanent ETP at Rs 10 lakh. The KR Puram General Hospital and the Yelankha General Hospital are planning to set up permanent septic tanks at an estimated cost of Rs 1 lakh each.

These proposals also come in for approval to us, said Sharat Chandra, chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

The Tuberculosis and Community Diseases Hospital and Epidemic Diseases Hospital administration department officials have also informed that in their action plan ETPs will be constructed in the coming months under the modernization project.

In the private hospital space, 18 out of 27 medical centres have the ETPs. These include Mallya Hospital, KR Hospital, Trinity Hospital, BGS Global, Imperial Cancer and Research Centre, MS Ramiah Hospital, MVJ Medical Centre and Manipal Hospital.

Among the government hospitals with over 200 beds, the 600 bed Victoria Hospital, 223-bed Vani Vilas Hospital, Minto Ophthalmology Hospital & Research Centre, Bowring & Lady Curzon, KC General Hospital and Epidemic Diseases Hospital do not have treatment plants. The officials of these hospitals were not available for comment.