| File Note: |
Subject: Application for obtaining authorization under Bio-Medical Wastes Management Rules, 2016 by M/s Civil Hospital, Rupnagar, Distt. Rupnagar.
In this regard it is submitted that the HCF was granted authorization under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 vide no. BMW/Renewal/RPN/2021/14592430 dated 29/10/2021 valid upto 30/09/2025 for 120 beds, subject to the conditions mentioned therein.
Thereafter, the HCF was jointly visited by the ADC (UD), Rupnagar and Officers of PPCB on 12.09.2024. During visit, Dr. Upinder Singh, SMO was contacted and observed that the HCF is violating provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and other Environmental Laws.
Accordingly, the HCF was issued show cause notice for revocation/cancellation of authorization granted to the hospital under the Bio-medical Waste Rules, 2016 as well as show cause notice for violations of the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 along with opportunity of personal hearing before the Senior Environmental Engineer of the Board has been issued vide Board's letter no. 3423 dated 25.09.2024.
However, the hospital has failed to attend the hearing on the said date and time. However, an e-mail dated 01/10/2024 has been received from the hospital requesting for giving another opportunity of hearing and the HCF was given another opportunity of personal hearing before the Senior Environmental Engineer of the Board on 14/11/2024. After hearing it was decided as under:
1. The Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Rupnagar shall visit the hospital, verify the compliance made by the hospital and process the applications of consents to operate applied by it under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and send report along with concrete recommendations within 7 days.
2. Further action shall be taken in the matter after the receipt of report from the Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Regional Office, Rupnagar. Submitted for confirmation and for conveying to the concerned please.
Further, in compliance to the decision of the Competent Authority, the HCF was visited by the undersigned on 16.07.2025 and contacted Dr. Raman, Bio- medical waste nodal officer. During visit it was observed that the HCF has failed to comply with the decisions of personal hearing as well as with the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Accordingly, show cause notice for cancellation of the authorization granted to the hospital under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 issued to the hospital authority vide no. 4278 dated 04.09.2025 alongwith another opportunity to appear in person before the Senior Environmental Engineer (ZP-I) of the Board in his office at Vatavaran Bhawan, Nabha Road, Patiala on 15.09.2025 and after hearing it was decided as under:
1. The hospital shall ensure regular and efficient operation of its Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and shall consistently achieve the prescribed standards. Also, it shall maintain proper records w.r.t. ETP operation and make available to the visiting officer of the Board during the conduct of visit.
2. The hospital shall collect and store the Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) generated by it in a proper and scientific manner. The BMW shall be disposed of only through the authorized CBWTF operator, and detailed records of BMW generation, storage, and disposal shall be maintained.
3. The hospital shall apply for renewal of authorization under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 from the Board within 7 days.
4. The hospital shall apply fresh consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, within 7 days.
5. The Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Patiala, shall visit the hospital, verify compliance with the above directions, and process the applications for Consent to Operate/Authorization to be submitted by the hospital under the Water Act, 1974; the Air Act, 1981; and the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, strictly on merits, within 15 days.
6. The hospital representative was categorically informed that failure to comply with the above directions shall invite strict action against the hospital without any further opportunity.
7. Further action shall be initiated on receipt of the compliance report from the Regional Office, Rupnagar.
Now, the HCF has applied for obtaining authorization under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 along with the requisite documents for 120 beds. The HCF has submitted the following documents along with the application:
The HCF has submitted the site plan/location plan, manifest slips, undertaking regarding liquid waste and bed capacity.
The HCF has deposited Rs. 50000 vide UTR no. PSIBN52025092980064559 dated 29.09.2025 under the BMW Rules, 2016 and the fee deposited by the HCF is adequate upto 30.09.2030.
The HCF has executed an agreement with the common Bio Medical Waste treatment facility namely M/s Rainbow Environments Village Balyali, Tehsil Kharar, Distt. Mohali for lifting and treatment of Bio Medical waste generated from the Hospital and the same is valid upto 31.07.2026 for 120 no. of beds.
The hospital was visited by the officer of the Board on 01.10.2025 and during visit it was observed as under:
1. The HCF is a 120 no. bed HCF.
2. The HCF has provided needle destroyers in the emergency, wards and OT and the needles were found properly shredded.
3. The HCF is having 03 OT rooms, emergency, medical ward, XRAY machine room, blood bank and laboratory in its premises.
4. The HCF is pre-treating its liquid waste by diluting with Sodium hypochlorite solution and is also maintaining the record of the same in the OT.
5. The HCF has maintained the record for lifting the bio medical waste to the CBWTF. The HCF is also fixing bar code stickers on the bags.
6. The HCF has provided final waste collection room with bio hazard symbol from where it is disposed off to the facility.
7. The HCF is maintaining the immunization record and has also formed biomedical waste committee.
8. The HCF has also maintained the record of training imparted to the personnel's collecting and handling bio medical waste.
9. The HCF has installed ETP of capacity 50 KLD for final treatment of the all the liquid waste being generated from the hospital. The treated water discharge is into the MC sewer leading to Terminal STP. The ETP components are as under:
Collection Tank – Tube Settler – Equalization Tank – MBBR Tank – 1 – MBBR Tank-II – Chlorination – Final Outlet
10. The reading of EMF meter installed at inlet of ETP is 1068.1 m3 and at the outlet is 3628.5 m3.
11. Final storage room is equipped with lock and key facility and danger sign mark present.
12. The bio-medical waste generating points of HCF were visited and found that segregation of bio medical waste was found proper as per Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
From above, it is clear that the hospital is complying with the BMW Rules, 2016 and the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as well as hearing decisions dated 15.09.2025.
In view of facts mentioned above, may if approved it is recommended that the consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be granted to the hospital upto 30.09.2026 subject to the suitable conditions and additional conditions as under:
1. The HCF shall obtain revised authorization, in case it increases its bed capacity.
2. The HCF shall comply with the Bio-Medical Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2019, in true letter & spirit.
3. The HCE shall send BMW on regular basis to common bio medical treatment facility and shall also maintain the record of the same all the times.
4. The HCF shall ensure that the agreement executed with the operator of the CBWTF shall be kept valid at all the times till this authorization is valid and submit a copy of the said agreement to the Board as and when the validity of the same is got extended, within 15 days from the date on which the validity of the agreement has been extended.
|
