BHOPAL: MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan 's breather to nursing homes operating in residential areas does not sit well in the light of Supreme Court directive. Besides, concern remains over disposal of biomedical waste and liquid waste management by the hospitals situated in residential areas.

Madhya Pradesh Nursing Homes Association (MPNHA) had urged the state government to put in place easy norms for them. All but four nursing homes in Bhopal are undertaking commercial activity in non-conforming areas of the city.

"Only those establishments will be regularized which fulfill the by-laws," said a senior health department official. Government sources claimed that it would not be easy for the authorities to rationalize and regularize the large number of existing nursing homes which at times flout norms in residential areas.

"Most of the nursing homes cause parking problems in their vicinity. It leads to traffic chaos and constant trouble for residents in the area," said Bhopal Citizen Forum (BCF) member and former director general of police (DGP) Arun Gurtoo. BCF has over the years been demanding that the civic and health authorities along with the pollution control board take action against hospitals not adhering to norms.

Some 59 nursing homes in New Bhopal are under the scanner for failing to meet norms on waste management.

Furthermore, to allow for ease of access to emergency vehicles and ambulance Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) had served notices to some of these nursing homes. BMC had contested that no nursing home should be allowed, until constructed on a road having a width of 12 metres or more. BMC report also looked into traffic chaos that ensues around many nursing homes and hospitals especially in the old parts of the city.

SC directive

In 2012 the Supreme Court order permitted clinics to house one bed and a life support system for emergency cases. The petitioners had pleaded before the apex court that the Noida Master Plan 2031 permitted clinics to function from a part of residential plots. They urged the court that they be granted permission to offer some support facilities as well as provisions for overnight stay for around 2-3 patients from a specific area. Taking note of these petitions, the apex court had permitted doctors, who run clinics from the permissible area, to keep one bed and life support system in the clinics to admit patients in case of emergencies.

SC had previously said that the 'misuse' of residential plots be stopped and commercial activities, such as banking and nursing homes, from development areas earmarked for residential use must be shut down immediately.

