Lok Sabha Question No. 4628 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Violations of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4628 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH MARCH, 2026

## VIOLATIONS OF BIOMEDICALWASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016

## 4628. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the recent incident at a State Government medical facility in Himachal Pradesh where a stray dog was found carrying an amputated human limb due to improper handling, storage of biomedical waste, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether this incident indicates violations of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 and related guidelines issued to hospitals, medical colleges, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of mechanisms presently in place for monitoring, auditing, enforcement of biomedical waste disposal protocols across States/UTs;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to issue advisories, strengthen compliance frameworks, and fix accountability on institutions and State authorities to prevent recurrence of such incidents, if so, the details thereof including recently issued advisories and contents of it;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure strict adherence to biomedical waste norms and public health safety nationwide; and
- (f) whether the Kayakalp Scheme provide funds or covers protocols for segregation, storage, and disposal and if so, the details of the scheme?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) & (b): Rule 9(1) of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (BMWM Rules, 2016), mentions the prescribed authority for the implementation of the provisions of these rules. The State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) in respect of states and Pollution Control Committees in respect of Union Territories are the prescribed authorities. The said incident at Atal Institute of Medical Super Speciality (AIMSS), Shimla came to the notice on 24.02.2026 of the Himachal

Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB). The SPCB reported improper handling and storage of biomedical waste.

As per HPSPCB, the incident indicates violation of the provisions of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the guidelines issued thereunder. A fact-finding committee was constituted at the Health Care Institution level to inquire into the matter and action has been taken by way of imposition of fine against the defaulters.

(c) The monitoring of implementation of the rules in health care facilities is carried out as per Rule 12 of BMWM Rules, 2016. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reviews implementation annually. Every State Government or Union territory Administration has to constitute District Level Monitoring Committee in the districts to monitor the compliance of the provisions of these rules in the health care facilities generating bio-medical waste and in the common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facilities, where the bio-medical waste is treated and disposed of.

Further as per Schedule III of BMWM Rules, 2016 the State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees undertake and support third party audits of the common biomedical waste treatment facilities in their State.

(d) & (e) The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has prepared various technical guidelines for (i) Common Biomedical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facilities , (ii) Handling, treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment, diagnostics and quarantine of COVID-19 patients, (iii) Monitoring Performance of Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facilities by State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees, (iv) Imposition of Environmental Compensation against Health Care Facilities and Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facilities, (v) Verification of Two Seconds Residence Time in Secondary Combustion Chamber of the Biomedical Waste Incinerator, (vi) Handling of Biomedical Waste for Utilization, (vii) Management of Healthcare Waste in Health Care Facilities as per Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, (viii) Bar Code System for Effective Management of Bio-Medical Waste. Further, Methodology to conduct gap analysis with respect to generation and treatment of biomedical waste, Toolkit for Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Advisory related to service of Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities to States were also issued by CPCB.

Additionally, CPCB has issued direction under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to all State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees including Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board to take appropriate action against Health Care Facilities and Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facilities for violation of BMWM Rules, 2016. As per Rule 11 of the BMWM Rules, 2016 every State Government or UT administration shall constitute an Advisory Committee under the Chairmanship of respective Health Secretary to oversee the implementation of the Rules.

(f) In order to ensure cleanliness, hygiene and public health safety at healthcare centres, National Health Mission (NHM) executes Kayakalp Scheme for hospitals under State Governments which provides comprehensive protocols and financial incentives for the segregation, storage, and disposal of bio-medical waste to ensure infection control in public health facilities. It mandates adherence to the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, requiring the use of color-coded bins for segregation at source, secure storage areas with bio-hazard labeling, and timely disposal through Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facilities. Kayakalp Scheme not only covers Biomedical waste protocols but also incentivizes facilities to rigorously implement them, ensuring public health safety and environmental protection nationwide.

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