The National Green Tribunal has directed the states and the union territories to closely monitor the transport, handling, storage and disposal of COVID-19 waste.
Highlights
The Biomedical waste rules deal with waste generated by the infectious diseases. However, special waste management rules have been issued by GoI to handle wastes of COVID-19 waste.
Significance
An improper handling of biomedical waste shall pose grave threat to health of the people and the environment. The unscientific way of handling the wastes of COVID-19 can turn to be hazardous.
Guidelines by the Tribunal
The tribunal had directed that a high-level team such as CPCB, Jal Shakti, Defence, Urban development supervise scientific disposal of COVID-19. Also, the state governments and UTs were directed to follow Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
The CPCB were directed to furnish a consolidated report to NGT.
Suggestions of NGT
The following suggestions were provided by the NGT
- The NGT has suggested to compile data in online format
- According to NGT, there is a need to create awareness among waste handlers, workers and citizens about the hazardous impacts of the COVID-19 wastes.
The CPCB had issued guidelines on management of disposal of waste during diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients.
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