The National Green Tribunal has directed all States and Union Territories to furnish reports pertaining to the management of bio-medical waste (BMW) to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) by April 30.
Noting that non-compliance of bio-medical waste management rules is “widespread,” a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel warned of heavy fines on authorities if they fail to furnish reports.
“We direct all States and Union Territories to ensure that reports [in terms of relevant rules] are furnished to the CPCB within one month or on or before April 30, for the period the reports are due as per rules. The CPCB may furnish a status report of compliance of BMW rules after proper analysis to NGT within one month,” the Bench said.
It added, “It is made clear that any failure will result in the defaulting States being required to pay compensation to be deposited with the CPCB at the rate of ₹1 crore per month after May 1.”
The States have also been directed to prepare respective action plans for compliance of rules pertaining to BMW within one month. “The CPCB may give its comments on the action plan to NGT within one month, thereafter,” the Bench said.
Further, the green panel directed the apex pollution monitoring body to undertake a study and prepare a scale of compensation to be recovered from “violators of BMW rules” within one month. “This will not debar the State pollution control boards from performing their duty of recovering compensation from the polluters,” the Bench said.
