In a startling disclosure, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) told the National Green Tribunal on Monday that 48 healthcare facilities have not followed the Bio-medical Waste Management (BWM) Rules, 2016 and a fine of Rs 1.34 crore has been imposed on them for breach of the provisions.

“All these health care facilities have valid agreement with the common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facility for safe transportation, treatment and disposal of biomedical waste generated from their hospitals,” the DPCC told a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice AK Goel.

The DPCC further told the green panel that 97 healthcare facilities have been issued authorization under the BMWM Rules, 2016. In the rest of 35 healthcare facilities, application for authorization is under deliberation and in abeyance for want of specific information like noise monitoring reports of DG sets etc. Four healthcare facilities have not applied for reactivation of authorisation under the BMWM Rules, 2016 after expiry of their authorization.

“All (four) these HCFS have been issued show cause notices for shutdown and have been imposed environmental damage compensation of Rs 29,86,250. All the 136 hospitals, having above 50 beds, are connected with sewage system of DJB. However, the DPCC Board has directed them to set up waste treatment plants for reusability of the treated sewage in horticulture etc. The STP has been installed by 131 of them for treating and recycling the overall sewage emitted from their buildings,” it said.

—India Legal Bureau