NGT Scolds Bhopal Municipal Corporation Over Biomedical Waste Dumping

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) for its failure to trace the hospital responsible for dumping biomedical waste behind the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

The NGT's intervention came after the BMC failed to identify the source of the biomedical waste despite conducting an investigation. The BMC had cleared the waste from the site and handed it over to the authorized Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF).

However, the NGT was not satisfied with the BMC's efforts and directed the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board to ensure that all healthcare institutions, including hospitals and clinics, have valid permits and are members of a CBWTF. The NGT also instructed the BMC to develop a system for the collection and disposal of biomedical waste from households and hospitals at no cost.

The NGT has given specific directives to the BMC, including the requirement that biomedical waste be treated within 48 hours, and that waste transport vehicles be equipped with GPS. The Pollution Control Board will also be provided with real-time monitoring capabilities.

Additionally, the NGT has instructed the BMC to establish waste collection facilities at garbage transfer stations and to ensure that municipal vehicles have separate leak-proof cabins for medical waste. The display of biohazard symbols will also be mandatory in these vehicles.

The NGT's directives aim to ensure that biomedical waste is handled and disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. The BMC has been instructed to take action against institutions that fail to comply with these regulations.

The issue of biomedical waste dumping is a serious concern in Bhopal, and the NGT's intervention is a step towards addressing this problem. The BMC's failure to identify the source of the waste has been criticized, and the NGT's directives are expected to improve the handling and disposal of biomedical waste in the city.

The NGT's directives are also expected to have a positive impact on the environment and public health in Bhopal. The proper handling and disposal of biomedical waste are crucial to preventing the spread of diseases and protecting the environment.

In a related development, Bhopal is set to get 10 electric road-sweeping machines worth ₹50 lakh each, with a trial run having begun. This initiative is expected to improve the cleanliness and sanitation in the city.

The NGT's intervention in the biomedical waste dumping issue and the introduction of electric road-sweeping machines are positive steps towards improving the environment and public health in Bhopal.