Continuous non-compliance

22/03/2018

Taking serious note of non-compliance to Bio Medical Waste Management Rules despite repeated instructions and reminders, the Jammu and Kashmir State Pollution Control Board is contemplating to launch prosecution against the Principals of Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar and both the Directors of Health Services. Moreover, the Board has conveyed its concern to both the Divisional Commissioners over slackness on the part of the Deputy Commissioners in monitoring the compliance of the provisions of the Bio Medical Waste Management Rules by the health institutions in their respective jurisdiction. In view of directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), J&K High Court and Central Pollution Control Board vis-à-vis strict implementation of Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, the State Pollution Control Board vide Letter No. SPCB/LSJ/341/261-62 dated June 12, 2017 had brought to the notice of Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education Department the issue of non-adherence to the Rules by the Government run health institutions across the State.
During inspections carried out by the Board, most of the health institutions attributed the deficiencies in the bio medical waste handling and treatment to lack of financial support from the Government. The matter has also been taken up with Principals of Government Medical Colleges and Associated Hospitals of the State and Superintendents of other hospitals followed by directions under Section 5 of Environment Protection Act, 1986 vide communication date March 30, 2016 but there is no change in the prevailing situation", the Member Secretary of the Pollution Control Board had conveyed to the Health Secretary through the communicated dated June 12, 2017 while requesting for his personal intervention to ward off any adverse situation that may arise on account of non-compliance of Rules. However, the situation has remained unchanged till date and this can be gauged from the Letter No. SPCB/LSJ/341/ 1241-1246 dated March 2, 2018 written by Member Secretary State Pollution Control Board to Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department.
No major change has been witnessed even after issuing binding instructions under Section 5 of Environment Protection Act to the Principals of Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar. Seeking immediate intervention of Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education in bringing Government run hospitals on right side of law in respect of Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, the Member Secretary has explicitly conveyed to the Health Secretary that in case failure persists the Board shall be constrained to opt for prosecution of Principals of Medical Colleges and Directors of Health Services under Environment Protection Act. This clearly indicates that despite orders from the State High Court and National Green Tribunal no seriousness has been shown by all the concerned authorities for implementation of the Bio Medical Waste Management Rules so as to check adverse impact on the environment and human health.

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