The Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed the construction of sewage and effluent treatment plants (STPs and ETPs) at government hospitals in Tamil Nadu to improve biomedical waste management practices. While new hospitals are being designed with these facilities, older hospitals currently discharge wastewater into the sewer network.
The PWD has estimated a cost of ₹103.45 crore for setting up STPs and ETPs in 13 government hospitals in Chennai, including the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. These plants will incorporate the latest membrane bioreactor technology.
Additionally, the department is preparing estimates for creating similar infrastructure in existing medical facilities, including those in Vellore. The move aims to ensure better management of biomedical waste and enhance environmental sustainability in healthcare settings.