Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News Item titled "MP Supriya Sule expressed concern over medical waste dumping” appearing in the Hindustan Times dated 18.12.2024.

The matter related to the illegal dumping of medical waste along Canal Road in Mirgalwadi village, Daund tehsil in Pune district of Maharashtra. As per the article, the waste, comprising injection boxes without identifying labels, was found near the Khadakwasla canal, a vital water source for agriculture and drinking.

The article highlighted that such negligence in dumping of bio medical waste poses serious health risks to citizens and livestock, given the canal's significance.

The above news item indicated violation of the provisions of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the court noted.

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The NGT directed notice be issued to the Member Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board; Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB); Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra; Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Nagpur and District Magistrate (Collector), Pune. The court gave directions for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the Western Zonal Bench, Pune one week before the next date of hearing, February 27, 2025.