(a) whether the Government has formulated any criteria for disposal of bio-medical wastes in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether several health units are not disposing of medical wastes properly in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a)&(b): The Government of India has notified the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
(BMW Rules) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EP Act) to ensure that the bio-medical waste
generated from the health care facilities is handled without any adverse effect to human health and
environment.
As per provisions of the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, every occupier generating
bio-medical waste, shall set up requisite bio-medical waste treatment facilities such as incinerators,
autoclaves and microwave systems, for treatment of the waste, or ensure requisite treatment of waste
at a common waste treatment facility to meet the prescribed standards.
(c)&(d): As per the annual reports for the year 2009 received from the SPCBs/PCCs, and Directorate General
of Armed Forces Medical Services, about 415 tonnes of bio-medical waste is generated per day from 1,29,511
health care facilities covered under the BMW Rules, as amended. Out of 415 tonnes of bio-medical waste,
about 301 tonnes per day of bio-medical waste generated is treated and disposed of safely. There are 168
Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs) in operation to treat the waste generated from
health care facilities. Apart from this, 20,670 health care facilities are having their own on-site
treatment facilities.
(e): The following actions are taken by the Government:
(i) All the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)
of Union Territories are the Prescribed Authorities for implementation of the BMW Rules. They
have been asked to ensure effective implementation of the BMW Rules and to take stringent action
against the health care facilities for violation of provisions, under the EP Act, 1986.
(ii) As per the information provided, 14,898 defaulting health care facilities have been issued show cause
notices or directions under the EP Act, 1986 by the SPCBs and PCCs, for violations of the provisions of BMW
Rules.
(iii) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has also issued directions under Section 5 of the EP Act, 1986
against 5 health care facilities and 14 CBWTFs for violation of the provisions during the last two years.
(iv) To create awareness among the stakeholders, CPCB has been conducting training-cum-awareness workshops on
bio-medical waste management in the past as well as during the current financial year in different regions of
the country. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is also providing financial assistance to various
agencies, including CPCB/SPCBs/PCCs for conducting such awareness and training programmes to the stakeholders
for proper implementation of the BMW Rules.
(v) In addition to the notification of the BMW Rules, CPCB has prepared the following guidelines and
circulated to the SPCBs and PCCs for ensuring their compliance:
(1) Guidelines for ‘Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs)’.
(2) Guidelines for ‘Design and Construction of Bio-Medical Waste Incinerators’.