Lok Sabha Question No. 857 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Brijendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 857 TO BE ANSWERED ON. 23.07.2021

## Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities

## 857. SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH:

Will  the  Hon'ble  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  all  biomedical  waste  treatment  facilities  are  actively  reporting  their  daily updates  on  the  COVID19BWM  App,  which  has  been  developed  to  monitor  waste management in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the other steps being taken to ensure that biomedical waste is not under-reported;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to expand the number of biomedical waste treatment facilities in the country as the vaccination drive progresses; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)&(b) The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is monitoring the generation of COVID -19  Biomedical  waste  (BMW)  through  the  COVID19BWM  App.  Out  of  202 operational Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs) across the country, 195 CBWTFs are reporting their data on the app. About 56898.14 Ton of COVID-19 BMW generation has been reported on the app from June-2020 to June 2021. The CPCB has taken following steps to ensure that CBWTFs report data on the COVID19 BMW app:
-  Show Cause Notices were issued to 106 CBWTFs  for not using the COVID19BWM tracking App in July, 2020;
-  33  CBWTFs were directed to  deposit  Environmental  Compensation  charges  in September, 2020;
-  Out  of  the  above-mentioned  33  CBWTFs,  28  CBWTFs  have  started  reporting data  on  the  App,  while  two(2)  CBWTFs  have  deposited  the  Environmental Compensation  Charges.  Another  two  (2)  CWTFs  have  partially  submitted Environmental Compensation Charges and action under Section 5 of Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  is  initiated  by  CPCB  for  remaining  noncompliances;
-  State  Pollution  Control  Boards/Pollution  Control  Committees  (SPCBs/  PCCs) have  been  requested  vide  email  dated  15.04.2021  to:  (i)  ensure  daily  usage  of Tracking App by Healthcare Facilities and CBWTFs, and (ii) submit daily data related to COVID-19 BMW through app or an email;
- (c)&(d) The  CPCB  guidelines  for  'Handling,  Treatment  and  Disposal  of  Waste  Generated during  Treatment/  Diagnosis/  Quarantine  of  COVID-19  Patients'  prescribe  for extended operation of CBWTFs (in terms of hours) to treat and dispose incremental quantity  of  BMW  generated  from  COVID-19  treatment  in  consultation  with respective  SPCBs/  PCCs.  Further,  the  guidelines  also  prescribe  that  in  case  of increased  generation  of  yellow  color-coded  (incinerable)  COVID-19  waste  (i.e. beyond the capacity of existing CBWTFs and captive BMW incinerators), respective SPCBs/  PCCs  may  permit  disposal  of  such  BMW  through  Hazardous  Waste incinerators at existing  Treatment,  Storage and  Disposal  Facilities or captive industrial incinerators ensuring separate arrangement for COVID19 BMW handling and  waste  feeding.  The  CPCB,  in  the  matter  of  O.A.  710/2017before  the  Hon'ble National  Green  Tribunal,  has  also  recommended  for  setting  up  of  CBWTFs  in following States/Union Territories (UTs):
-  States - Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura
-  UTs - Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep

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