Sri Vijaya Puram, May 10: It is brought to the knowledge of all concerned that, under the provisions of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, every biomedical waste generator is required to obtain authorization for the generation, handling, treatment, processing and disposal of biomedical waste. Further, under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, all such facilities are mandated to obtain Consent to Establish (CTE), Consent to Operate (CTO) and renewal thereof, from Andaman & Nicobar Pollution Control Committee (ANPCC).
However, it has been observed that several Healthcare Facilities (HCFs) operating in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are required to strengthen compliance with the above statutory provisions.
Therefore, all Healthcare Facilities both Government and Private are hereby urged to ensure strict adherence to the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (as amended), particularly with respect to the following:
1. All HCFs shall obtain valid Consent to Establish (CTE)/Consent to Operate (CTO) under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981, along with authorization under BMWM Rules, 2016 from the Andaman & Nicobar Pollution Control Committee (ANPCC) through the OCMMS portal (https://anocmms.nic.in).
2. As per the revised classification issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), industries are categorized into Red, Orange, Green, and White categories based on their pollution potential. Healthcare Facilities (HCFs) falling under the Red category are required to have adequate wastewater management systems and scientific waste disposal mechanisms. HCFs with 501 to more than 1000 beds are classified under the Red category, those with 201 to 500 beds under the Orange category, and HCFs with up to 200 beds under the Green category. Further, all HCFs having more than 10 beds required to install appropriate Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) for treatment of effluents prior to discharge.
3. HCFs having captive incineration facilities shall have installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) with real-time data transmission to CPCB servers. The HCFs in isolated/ far flung areas can practice deep burial method for biomedical waste management (Yellow category), however shall be duly authorized and designed in accordance with standards prescribed under Schedule II of BMWM Rules, 2016.
4. HCFs (bedded) not connected to sewerage systems or without terminal treatment facilities shall comply with standards specified under Schedule II of BMWM Rules, 2016. HCFs connected to public sewers with terminal treatment facilities shall comply with general discharge standards notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. HCFs with less than 10 beds shall comply with discharge standards under Schedule II (S. No. 8). Non-bedded occupiers shall treat infectious liquid waste through disinfection prior to disposal, as per prescribed guidelines. For more information, follow the guidelines.
In view of the provisions, all the Healthcare Facilities in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are hereby advised to ensure strict compliance with the above provisions.