Fully complying with BM waste rules: AIIMS, RML to Tribunal

AIIMS and RML Hospital today contended before the National Green Tribunal that they are fully complying with the bio-medical waste management rules and sought deletion of their names from the list of defaulting institutions.
Also, the Tribunal directed 12 Haryana-based hospitals and nursing homes, allegedly found violating bio-medical waste management rules, to file their replies before the next hearing on February 6 or face closure.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Ram Manohar Lohia hospital and several other Delhi-based government and private hospitals were found to be non-compliant of the rules by the NGT which had directed the DPCC to periodically inspect them and file a report on how they are dealing with the bio-medical waste generated by them.

In view of the claim by AIIMS and RML hospital, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar today directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to submit a status report on whether the two hospitals are following the bio-medical waste rules.
The NGT, which threatened the 12 Haryana-based hospitals with closure, had issued notice to them on December 11, last year, and sought the presence of their Principal Officers after the tribunal was informed that they were non-compliant in regard to segregation of bio-medical waste at source of generation, temporary storage of the waste, etc and are causing environmental pollution.

It also asked several Haryana-based BM waste handling units to apply to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for obtaining environmental clearance as per the tribunal's November 28, 2013 judgement in which it was held that such units require the green nod prior to being set up as they deal in hazardous waste.