<p>The National Green Tribunal has said that the Uttar Pradesh health department and the state pollution control board (SPCB)are not properly geared up for management of biomedical waste of Covid-19 patients.</p>.<p>A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel noted that there is only one vehicle for Covid-19 waste collection from 876 Health Care Facilities in five districts of the state -- Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Pilibhit and Rampur.</p>.<p>“Their monitoring mechanism is inadequate. The maintenance of record is not as per norms. The collection and treatment of Bio-medical waste is deficient.</p>.<p>“There are no adequate safeguards for the workers involved in collection and treatment of the waste,” the bench said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/omicron-may-reach-millions-before-vaccines-do-1071016.html" target="_blank">Omicron may reach millions before vaccines do</a></strong></p>.<p>Referring to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the NGT said there is need for improvement in coordination process of the SPCB with Urban Local Bodies/Municipalities and generators of bio-medical waste.</p>.<p>“The deep burial pits used by the Facilities are also not adequate. Segregation of bio-medical waste from general waste and scientific treatment thereof needs to be improved,” the bench said in a recent order.</p>.<p>Since there are huge gaps in compliance of environmental norms in handling and disposal of bio-medical waste, including Covid-19 waste, causing health hazard to the citizens, the NGT said emergent and effective measures are inevitable to remedy the situation.</p>.<p>The tribunal formed two committees at state and district level for proper monitoring of the issue.</p>.<p>“The State and District Level Monitoring Committees will be free to co-opt any other experts/ agency for its assistance.</p>.<p>“The said Committees may also meet within two weeks in the first instance and thereafter the State Committee may once in a month and the District Committee once in a fortnight initially till the situation improves,” the bench said.</p>.<p>The tribunal was hearing a plea seeking remedial action against non compliance of Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) Rules, 2016 and for handling and treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment/ diagnosis/ quarantine of Covid-19 patients.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>
<p>The National Green Tribunal has said that the Uttar Pradesh health department and the state pollution control board (SPCB)are not properly geared up for management of biomedical waste of Covid-19 patients.</p>.<p>A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel noted that there is only one vehicle for Covid-19 waste collection from 876 Health Care Facilities in five districts of the state -- Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Pilibhit and Rampur.</p>.<p>“Their monitoring mechanism is inadequate. The maintenance of record is not as per norms. The collection and treatment of Bio-medical waste is deficient.</p>.<p>“There are no adequate safeguards for the workers involved in collection and treatment of the waste,” the bench said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/omicron-may-reach-millions-before-vaccines-do-1071016.html" target="_blank">Omicron may reach millions before vaccines do</a></strong></p>.<p>Referring to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the NGT said there is need for improvement in coordination process of the SPCB with Urban Local Bodies/Municipalities and generators of bio-medical waste.</p>.<p>“The deep burial pits used by the Facilities are also not adequate. Segregation of bio-medical waste from general waste and scientific treatment thereof needs to be improved,” the bench said in a recent order.</p>.<p>Since there are huge gaps in compliance of environmental norms in handling and disposal of bio-medical waste, including Covid-19 waste, causing health hazard to the citizens, the NGT said emergent and effective measures are inevitable to remedy the situation.</p>.<p>The tribunal formed two committees at state and district level for proper monitoring of the issue.</p>.<p>“The State and District Level Monitoring Committees will be free to co-opt any other experts/ agency for its assistance.</p>.<p>“The said Committees may also meet within two weeks in the first instance and thereafter the State Committee may once in a month and the District Committee once in a fortnight initially till the situation improves,” the bench said.</p>.<p>The tribunal was hearing a plea seeking remedial action against non compliance of Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) Rules, 2016 and for handling and treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment/ diagnosis/ quarantine of Covid-19 patients.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>