NGT directs states and UTs to monitor biomedical waste management

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked all the States and Union Territories to submit a report on the quantity of biomedical waste generated and directed them to establish common treatment and disposal facilities, if not facilitated yet.

A bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, NGT Chairperson, directed the District Magistrates of all the States to monitor the compliance of the biomedical waste management rules twice a month.

The green panel advised that district committees including representatives from the respective panchayats, local bodies, regional officers and State pollution control boards could operate the plan.

“We place on record our disapproval of the inaction of States in furnishing the inventory studies as well as for incomplete inventories. The States, which have not yet constituted advisory committee, may also do so within two months. The action plans and their execution must be carried out having regard to the key performance indicators,” said the bench.

“It is made clear that, if even after two months the States and UTs are found to be non-compliant, the compensation will be liable to be recovered from the said States and UTs at the rate of Rs 1 crore per month till the non-compliance continues,” the bench observed.