Context
- Recently, the Union Minister inaugurated India’s first indigenous Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Plant at AIIMS New Delhi.
About the Treatment Plant
- The plant, named “Sṛjanam,” was developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research– National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST).
- The plant is designed to sustainably manage biomedical waste by disinfecting pathogenic materials like blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables, all without the need for incinerators.
- The system neutralizes odors and can process 400 kg of biomedical waste and 10 kg of degradable waste daily. Full-scale implementation will proceed after validation and regulatory approval.
- The “Sṛjanam” technology has been third-party validated for antimicrobial effectiveness, with studies showing its treated material is safer than organic fertilizers like vermicompost.
- A 2023 CPCB report reveals India generates 743 tonnes of biomedical waste daily. The new technology provides an alternative to incineration, reducing exposure risks and environmental contamination.