Lok Sabha Question No. 1864 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-31
Subject: Bio-medical Waste
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1864**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 31** **ST** **JULY, 2015**

**Bio-medical Waste**

**1864. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:**

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

(a) the quantum of bio-medical waste generated in the country during each of the last three years and the current year;

(b) the mechanism put in place by the Government for safe disposal of biomedical waste including liquid wastes in the country;

(c) the complaints received by the Government with regard to violation of biomedical waste  (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 and action taken against the erring hospitals during the said period; and

(d) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to strictly implement the aforesaid Rules and to establish common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facility?

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)**

(a):   The details of quantum of Bio-medical wastes generation in the country during 2011, 2012 and 2013, as per information provided by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) are given below:-

(in kg/day)

| Year                         | 2011     | 2012     | 2013     |
|------------------------------|----------|----------|----------|
| Bio-medical Waste Generation | 4,15,429 | 4,16,824 | 4,84,271 |

(b):     Government of India has promulgated Bio-medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998 (BMW Rules) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for ensuring environmentally sound management of bio-medical waste generated in the Country. Further, Government of India amended the said Rules in the year 2000 and 2003. Rule 5 (1) of the BMW Rules, stipulates that “Bio-medical Waste shall be treated and disposed of in accordance with Schedule I and in compliance with the standards prescribed in Schedule V.  Also, Rule 5 (2) of the BMW Rules stipulates that “every occupier, where required shall set up in accordance with the time-schedule in Schedule VI, requisite bio-medical waste treatment facilities like incinerator, autoclave, microwave system for the treatment of waste or ensure requisite treatment of waste at a common waste treatment facility or any other waste treatment facility”.

As per the Annual Report 2013 submitted by the State Pollution  Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) and Directorate General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS),  22,245 Health Care Facilities (HCFs) are having on-site treatment facilities apart from 198 Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTFs) providing treatment services to the 1,31,837 HCFs.

(c):    As per the information provided by CPCB, during the period January 2014 to May 2015, 18 complaints have been received by them, which  were forwarded to the SPCBs/PCCs concerned to examine the issues raised by the complainant and to take action in light of the Bio-medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998 as amended.

(d):        Apart from notification of Bio-medical Waste ( Management & Handling) Rules, 1998 under the Environment ( Protection) Act, 1986,   various steps have been taken by CPCB for ensuring proper management of bio-medical waste in the Country,

(i) issuing of Manual on ‘Bio-medical Waste Management’;

(ii) issuing of Guidelines on “Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facilities”;

(iii) development & circulation of Guidelines on “Design & Construction of Bio-medical Waste Incinerator”;

(iv) issuing of Guidelines for disposal of bio-medical waste generated during the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).

(v) issuing of Guidelines for management and handling of mercury waste generated from the Health Care Facilities.

Besides, regular interaction meets are organized by CPCB with the SPCBs, PCCs, DGAFMS and the CBWTF Operators for effective enforcement of the BMW Rules.

To encourage setting up of common treatment facilities for bio-medical wastes, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) provides 25 % of the total project cost as financial assistance for setting up of Common Bio-medical waste Treatment and Disposal Facility (CBWTFs) for bio-medical waste, on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis. In the case of North - Eastern States, upto 50 % of the total project cost is provided as Central assistance subject to 25 % of the project cost is contributed by the State Government concerned and the balance 25 % of the project cost is contributed by the entrepreneur. The Central assistance is limited to a maximum of Rs. 1 Crore. In case of NE States, the central assistance is limited to a maximum of Rs. 2 Crore.

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