With the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) failing to keep a check on health institutes in Patiala, healthcare centres, nursing homes and hospitals have started dumping bio-medical waste in the open. During a visit to areas near the New Lal Bagh, Khalsa College Road and the Badungar Road, it was found that many hospitals are dumping bio-medical waste on roadsides and vacant plots here in violation of the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. According to these rules, every hospital/healthcare centre is supposed to segregate bio-medical waste into different containers and bags in accordance with a colour code and these containers are to be transported from the hospital premises to a Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility unit. These units are located in Mohali, Ludhiana, Pathankot and Amritsar. Dumping of the bio-medical waste in the open in an unscientific manner can lead to health hazards. Notably, the PPCB authorities had taken some steps to check these violations last year, which had a positive impact then but things are back to square one. The seriousness of the problem can be gauged from the fact that during a raid conducted by the PPCB last year in July, as many as 54 hospitals and healthcare centres in the state were found to be violating these rules.