Lok Sabha Question No. 2139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Guidelines to Manage Bio-Medical Waste
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sanjay Kumar Bandi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2139 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD SEPTEMBER, 2020

## GUIDELINES TO MANAGE BIO - MEDICAL WASTE

## 2139. SHRI BANDI SAN JAY KUMAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has issued any guidelines to manage biomedical waste generated in thehospitals due to treatment of patients affected by COVID - 19, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government of Telangana is following the protocol mandated for disposal of biomedical waste generated in COVID - 19 hospitals in the State, if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether Government/Indian Medical Association h ve received any co mplaints from doctors in the COVID - 19 hospitals of Telangana State in this regard, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)   As inf ormed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), orona Virus Disease of 2019 ( COVID - 19) related  bio - medical  waste  can  be  disposed  safely  with  existing  infrastructur complying  with  provisions  under  Bio - Medical  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016.  However, realiz ing  Pandemic  situation,  CPCB  has  prepared  the  guidelines  for  'Handling,  Treatment  & Disposal of bio - medical waste generated during Treatment/Diagnosis/ Quarantine of COVID - 19 patients'. These guidelines were initially issued on 19.03.2019, thereafter revis ed depending on ground  situation  and  evolving  technical  guidance.  Last  revision  of  guidelines  was  iss 17.07.2020.

Further,  CPCB  has  also  issued  guidelines  on  15.09.2020,  for  monitoring  of  Common Bio- medical  Waste  Treatment  and  Disposal Facilities (CBWTFs) to ensure safe handling and disposal of bio - medical waste.

(b) CPCB developed waste tracking App named 'COVID19BWM'. Both Android Mobile and Web versions of software application were designed for waste generators, Common Biomedic Wa ste  Treatment  and  Disposal  Facility  (CBWTF)  Operators,  State  Pollution  Control  Boar (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). 1st version of the  App  has  been  introduced  and  a  demonstration  was  given  to  SPCBs/PCCs  and  ot her stakeholders  in  May,  2020.  SPCBs  including  Telangana  State  Pollution  Control  Board  we directed to ensure usage of Tracking App:

- 8 out of 11 CBWTFs located in Telangana State are using the aforesaid Tracking Ap CPCB  vide  it's letter  dated  21.07.2020  issued  Show  Cause  Notice  to  remaining  3 CBWTFs for not using Tracking App.
- Directions  under  section  5  of  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  were  also  issued Telangana SPCB vide letter dated 11.08.2020, to ensure compliance to CPCB gu idelines for effective management of bio - medical waste.
- 160 COVID - 19 waste generators are registered on Tracking Application.

(c) As informed by CPCB and Indian Medical Association (IMA), no such complaints from doctors in the COVID - 19 hospitals of Telan gana State have been received.