Final affidavit by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in Original Application No. 72 of 2020 regarding scientific disposal of bio-medical waste arising out of COVID-19 treatment and compliance of BMW Rules 2016.

The affidavit by the MoEF&CC stated that the CPCB is the nodal agency to coordinate the activities of SPCBs/PCCs with respect to implementation and compliance of the BMW Rules, 2016. Accordingly, the CPCB has been coordinating with SPCBs/ PCCs in the disposal of biomedical waste arising out of handling of COVID-19 pandemic.

It is submitted that a High Level Task Team (HLTT) has also been constituted by Central Pollution Control Board to review the COVID19 waste management across the country comprising representative from the following ministries:

• Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change,
• Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,
• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs,
• Ministry of Defense and
• Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Note : The report was uploaded to the NGT on January 15, 2021