Affidavit filed by the Central Pollution Control Board regarding implementation of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, 15/04/2025
Affidavit by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in the matter of Mukul Kumar Vs State of Uttar Pradesh & Others dated 15/04/2025. The matter related to implementation of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (BMWM Rules, 2016).
The CPCB report contained details regarding captive treatment facilities including deep burial. In twelve states/ UTs CBWTFs are being used for treatment and disposal of biomedical waste. Captive treatment and deep burial are not being utilised in these states/UTs. In remaining 24 states / UTs captive treatment facilities and deep burial are being utilised besides CBWTFs.
The report stated that 82 HCFs are having captive incinerators and 17800 of HCFs are utilizing deep burial for disposal of biomedical waste. The CPCB report stated that in deep burial, biomedical waste is placed in a pit or trench and then covered with soil and lime. As per BMWM Rules, 2016 some categories of biomedical waste (human anatomical waste, animal anatomical waste and soiled waste) could be disposed of through deep burial where there is no access to CBWTF.
Further, deep burial is permitted only in rural or remote areas where there is no access to CBWTF and carried out with prior approval from the prescribed authority - state pollution control board / pollution control committee. Out of 17,800 HCFs, 15,614 of HCFs are operational in remote areas and are as per standards under BMWM Rules, 2016. Kerala SPCB submitted that they are under process of stopping captive treatment facilities including deep burial in 29 HCFs but the process is delayed due to HCFs approaching court.
The CPCB report recommended that use of deep burial should be permitted only in rural or remote areas in accordance with standards prescribed under BMWM Rules, 2016. SPCBs/PCCs should monitor and ensure compliance to BMWM Rules, 2016 by all deep burial. SPCBs/PCCs should expedite the process of establishment of CBWTFs to cover the remote areas to the extent possible where deep burials are utilised for disposal of biomedical waste. So far, CPCB has not come across any complaint or impact due to deep burial of biomedical waste. However, if deep burial is not properly managed it may cause environment pollution. Thus, the report recommended that SPCBs/PCCs should permit deep burial only in rural or remote areas in accordance with standards prescribed under BMWM Rules, 2016.