BHUBANESWAR The Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) is all set to file criminal cases against three medical colleges and hospitals (MCHs) as well as seven district headquarters hospitals of the State for continuous violation of Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules. The superintendents and in-charges of bio-medical waste management at SCB, MKCG and VSS Medical will be slapped criminal charges. Besides, similar cases would be filed against the district hospitals of Kandhamal, Jagatsinghpur, Keonjhar, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada and Ganjam under the Environment Protection Act, 1988, well-placed sources said. Cases will be booked against other hospitals of the State in phases in the days to come. The Regional Officers of the Board are authorised to file prosecution in the respective SDJM courts which are designated to try such cases. Conviction attracts a jail term of up to five years or a penalty up to Rs 1 lakh. All these health institutions have long been flouting biomedical waste handling rules and were served notices by the Board to mend their ways. The OSPCB issues authorisation to the health institutions with certain conditions. When the conditions are flouted, the Board serves show-cause notices on them as to why authorisation should not be revoked. Despite being given repeated chances, most have not acted. Earlier this month, the Orissa High Court asked the Board to initiate criminal cases against the MCHs as well as other institutions within a month. An HC-appointed committee comprising amicus curiae PR Das and petitioner of the PIL on biomedical waste disposal in MCHs and hospitals Ajoy Mohanty had submitted before the court a report on state-of-affairs at Cuttack, Burla and Berhampur and cited serious deficiencies.