| File Note: |
Kindly peruse the note of AEE dated 01.01.2026……………
• It is submitted that Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBMWTF) was granted Consent to Operate under the Water Act, 1974 dated 06.04.2023 and Air Act, 1981 dated 21.04.2023, both valid up to 31.03.2028, for processing Bio-Medical Waste @ 10 TPD (3000 TPA) through an incinerator of capacity 250 kg/hr, an autoclave of capacity 250 Ltr./batch (45-minute cycle), a shredder of capacity 300 Kg/hr for shredding Bio-Medical Waste, and three encapsulated sharp pits (each of size 2 m × 2 m × 2 m), subject to suitable conditions mentioned therein……………………….
• CBMWTF was earlier granted NOC for expansion dated 13.07.2022, valid up to 12.07.2023 for installation of an additional incinerator of capacity 200 kg/hr (standby) for processing 10 TPD (3000 TPA) of bio-medical waste……………………
• CBMWTF has obtained Environmental Clearance for installation of CBWTF vide no. SEIAA/2018/878 dated 16.07.2018 for 2 nos. incinerator of capacity @ 250 Kg/hr, 2 nos. autoclave of capacity @ 250 litres., 1 no. Shredder of capacity @ 300 Kg/hr and 1 no. effluent treatment plant of capacity 4.5 KLD………………..
• To assess the compliance status of the facility, inspections were carried out by RO Sri Muktsar Sahib on 14.07.2025 and 14.10.2025, and an e-Noting vide No. 29175562 was generated highlighting the shortcomings observed during the visits, which was forwarded to the competent authority for further necessary action. Meanwhile, the industry has applied through the OCMMS portal dated 24.10.2025 for obtaining varied Consent to Operate under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 for operation of the additional 200 kg/hr incinerator (standby), without any increase in treatment capacity or land area…………………………..
• The non-compliances observed during the inspection dated 14.10.2025 were processed in the applied case. Accordingly, the facility was issued show-cause notice vide No. 3666 dated 05.12.2025, proposing refusal of varied Consents to Operate and revocation/cancellation of the earlier granted Consents to Operate under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981, while granting an opportunity to submit a written explanation within 10 days………………………
• The industry has submitted point-wise reply of show-cause notice dated 13.12.2025 ………………
• To verify the submission, the facility was visited by Er. Ravi Pal, Environmental Engineer and Er. Sahil Goyal, Asst. Environmental Engineer on 30.12.2025 and following observations were made:
1. The facility was found operational at the time of inspection………………..
2. The facility has installed an incinerator of capacity 250 Kg/hr (in-operational) equipped with a venturi scrubber as an Air Pollution Control Device (APCD). The system comprises a water tank with drop separator, packed bed, activated carbon filter, mist eliminator, and ID fan, all housed within a shed. Industry has rectified the leakages in the scrubber observed during the last visit………………….
3. The facility has installed an additional incinerator of capacity 200 Kg/hr (Standby, not in operation) equipped with a venturi scrubber as an Air Pollution Control Device (APCD). The system comprises a water tank with drop separator, packed bed, activated carbon filter, mist eliminator, and ID fan, all housed within a shed. The industry has provided a common stack for both the incinerators, with adequate height………………..
4. The facility has installed one autoclave of capacity 250 Ltr./batch (45-minute cycle), one shredder of capacity 300 Kg/hr for shredding Bio-Medical Waste, and three encapsulated sharp pits (each of size 2 m × 2 m × 2 m) for the storage of sharps after disinfection through autoclaving. However, all these units were found non-operational at the time of inspection……………………….
5. The industry has provided pacca floor in the processing shed with proper slope to collect the floor washing, discharge of autoclave into open drain leads to ETP……………………
6. Yellow category waste was being incinerated in the incinerator of capacity @250 Kg/hr and emission of whitish-grey smoke was observed from the stack…………………
7. The facility has installed an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) comprising one reaction tank (using alum for treatment of scrubbing water) for the treatment of trade effluent generated from the autoclaving section, vehicle washing area, and wastewater from the venturi scrubber………………..
8. The industry has developed plantation area for discharge of treated trade effluent in about one kanal land which is adequate to handle treated effluent @ 4.5 KLD…………………….
9. The ETP was operational during the visit; however, there was no discharge at the outlet, therefore the water samples could not be collected………………..
10. The EMF has been installed at the outlet of ETP and the cumulative discharge was recorded. The representative informed that the EMF has been ordered for inlet of ETP and would be installed within one week…………………………..
11 The facility has renewed the Bank Guarantee of Rs. 5.0 lakhs vide no. 07550ILG000225 dated 11.12.2025 valid up to 10.12.2027. ………………
12. The facility has updated and maintained the records of fresh water intake; effluent generated from the ETP and hazardous waste generated within the premises…………………
13. The industry is complying with the conditions of the quantity of the fresh water intake granted which is 5 KLD as per the Environmental Clearance granted and the effluent generated from the process is also within permissible limits which is up to 4.5 KLD. During the last visit, the fresh water intake and effluent generated was found beyond the permissible limits due to the leakages observed in scrubber which has been rectified by the industry…………………….
13. The facility has installed a separate sub-meter for every equipment (Incinerator/Autoclave/Shredder/ETP). Daily electricity consumption is around 200-250 kW. The representative has informed that during the last visit, the electric meter was faulty, due to which it was reflecting 500 kW but now it has been rectified………………..
14. The facility has provided a separate storage room for Plastic waste & glass and an additional room for storage of hazardous waste generated within the premises…………………….
15. The facility has provided septic tank for treatment of domestic effluent with the provision discharge on to land for plantation area…………….
16. The facility has provided CCTV cameras at entry gate of the unit, at incinerator, at autoclave, at shredder & at unloading of vehicles………….
. 17. The facility has provided fire safety measures, safety measures for workers appointed for treatment of bio-medical waste…………………
• RO has reported that the industry is now complying with the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, conditions of the Environmental Clearance granted, and the guidelines of Management of the BMW & HWM prescribed by the CPCB dated 21.12.2016………………….
• RO has recommended that the consent to operate under Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 be granted to the industry for operation of common bio-medical waste treatment facility to treat bio-medical waste @ 10 TPD of different categories valid up to 30.06.2030 subjected to suitable conditions………………..
Keeping in view of above and recommendations of RO, if approved, the facility may be granted varied consent to operate under Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 for treatment of bio-medical waste of different categories @ 10 TPD upto 30.06.2030 with following special conditions:-
1. The facility shall operate one incinerator at one time and shall keep the 2nd incinerator standby……….
2. The facility shall get effluent & emission samples analysed from Board Lab, within one month…………….
3. The facility shall get approve the revised building plan (showing both incinerators) from Competent Authority and shall submit to the Board, within 03 months………
4. The facility shall ensure compliance of all conditions mentioned in Environmental Clearance at all times…………
5. The facility shall operate the pollution control devices regularly and efficiently so as to achieve the prescribed effluent & emission standards………………..
6. The facility shall keep the planation area healthy and ensure that there is no ground water contamination with operation of the facility…………
7. The facility shall comply with the guidelines prescribed by CPCB for such common facilities at all times…………
8. The facility shall provide water meter at inlet as well outlet and shall provide separate energy meter for ETP………….
9. The facility shall maintain the record of ETP operation on daily basis w.r.t water meter readings, energy meter readings, chemical consumptions, etc…………
10. The facility shall provide energy meter with APCD (s) and shall maintain its record on daily basis……..
11. The facility shall get itself registered and establish connectivity of OCEMS with Online Data Acquisition Monitoring System (ODAMS) portal of CPCB, within 10 days……………
12. The facility shall connect the CCTV cameras with the server of the Board………….
13. The facility shall provide GPS system with all the vehicles provided for collection of bio medical waste from various locations. …………..
14. The facility will dispose off treated plastic waste and glass to authorized user/ recycler………………….
15. The facility shall bound to comply with the zoning regulations of Master Plan as and when notified………..
16. PPCB shall not be liable for any loss incurred in case site of the industry falls under non-conforming zone as per notified Master Plan…………
17. The facility shall obtain permission from Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) for abstraction of ground water and shall comply with the guidelines prescribed by it…………….
18. The facility shall install water meter at fresh water supply and shall maintain its record on daily basis………..
19. The consent to operate is being granted from pollution angle only. The facility shall obtain necessary statutory permission from the other concerned department, as applicable……………
20. The facility shall not generate/ discharge any trade effluent without obtaining prior written permission of the Board.
21. The facility shall ensure that there is no pollution/nuisance in the vicinity with the operation of common facility.
22. The facility shall neither increase its production nor land area without obtaining prior permission from the Board…………
Competency – worthy Chairperson of the Board
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