NGT Directs CPCB for Swift Compliance Reports on Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to ensure all states and Union territories (UTs) “expeditiously” file reports regarding compliance with Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules.

The NGT was hearing a plea seeking remedial action against non-compliance of the 2016 rules. Earlier, during the hearings in January and October last year, it had directed all states and UTs to file “further compliance status reports.”

On January 12, an order was passed by a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted that reports were filed by 13 states and UTs – Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Punjab, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, J&K, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Goa.

The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel said, “Let notice be issued to the Member Secretary, CPCB, who will download copies of all the reports and will prepare a chart indicating the compliance of various provisions of the BMW Rules by each of the States/UTs.”

“The Member Secretary, CPCB will also ensure that reports are filed by the remaining States/UTs expeditiously,” it added.

Last year, the tribunal had observed that there were “huge gaps” in compliance with the rules. Underlining that “remedial action needs to be planned,” it had sought further reports.

The matter has been listed on March 12 for further proceedings.