Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding non compliance of Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 in the district Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Neemkathana, 19/01/2024

Order of the National Green Tribunal  (Central Zone Bench, Bhopal) in the matter of Jan Jagrukta Sewa Sansthan Rajasthan Through its President Vs State of Rajasthan & Others dated 19/01/2024.

By means of the letter petition the applicant, Jan Jagrukta Sewa Sansthan Rajasthan, Sikar, Rajasthan has raised the grievance of non compliance of Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 in the district Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Neemkathana by the private hospitals and the medical waste is reported to be thrown into the municipal waste causing the spread of serious disease adversely affecting human health.

The report filed by the joint committee in its report recommended that a committee for management of biomedical waste shall be constituted at all PHC,s/CHCs/SDHs/DH and all Private Health Care Facilities and details of the same shall be shared with the CMHO and Rajasthan Pollution Control Board. The BMW committee so formed shall submit any issues related to treatment, transportation and collection of Biomedical waste from CBWTF i.e. M/s Instromedix India Private Limited to the concerned CMHO and RSPCB. It should be ensured that all health care facilities shall follow the collection, segregation of BMW as per provisions envisaged under BMW Rules 2016 and its subsequent amendments, the joint committee report said.

From the report filed by the Joint Committee the court noted that necessary remedial actions are being taken by the state authorities for disposal of bio-medical waste. The court was also informed that CBWT facility is in operation and the medical waste is being disposed of in district Jaipur, having valid consent to operate any authorisation of the Rajasthan Pollution Control Board. In the Jhunjhunu the process has been initiated and agreement has been entered between the parties for the development of the site.

The NGT directed the Jhunjhunu municipal corporation to expedite the matter and to ensure that bio medical waste should be disposed of in accordance with the rules and there should not be any violation of environmental rules. The State Pollution Control Board has been directed to periodically monitor the compliance of the Bio Medical Waste Management Rules and in case of any violation "necessary legal action in addition to imposition of environmental compensation must be initiated according to rules", said the NGT order, January 19, 2024.