Action taken report in compliance to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, February 18, 2022 (I.A. No. 29/2022) in the matter of Prabhar Rai & Others Vs Union of India & Others.

The matter related to the proposed setting up of a common bio-medical waste facility (CBWTF) in village Paharpur, post Gotha Rasoolpur, tehsil and district Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. It was alleged that the CBWTF was allowed to set up in contravention of the guidelines for sitting criteria.

The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) constituted a joint committee, which visited the site of proposed CBWTF. As per site inspection report of the joint committee, the distance of primary health centre from the proposed CBWTF is 166 meter and the distance of nearest habitat to the CBWTF is 184 meter.

A conditional consent to establish (CTE) has been issued by the UPPCB, January 5, 2022. State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority has issued environment clearance, December 3, 2021. Point No. 6 (b) of Revised Guidelines for Common Biomedical Waste Treatment & Disposal facility, December 21, 2016 of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) describes location criteria of a CBWTF.

As per point 6 (b) of location criteria a CBWTF can be located at a place reasonably for away from notified residential and sensitive areas and should have a buffer distance of preferably 500 m so tht it shall hve minimal impact on these areas. In case of non-availability of such a land the buffer zone distance from the notified residential area may be reduced to less than 500 m by the SPCB/PCC without referring the matter to the SPCB by prescribing additional control measures, the report said.