Aafrin Kidwai 
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to ensure strict compliance of the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016. It also asked CPCB to ensure that the compensation regime is duly applied against the defaulters, following due process.
The NGT bench headed by its chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that the standards of handling of Bio-medical waste need to duly comply and the authorities must ensure that waste is disposed of only through authorized agencies, common facilities are located as per guidelines and they must have Environment Clearance.
The NGT also said that there should be no pilferage by unauthorized recyclers and an adequate number of common bio-medical facilities should be set up, reports news agency UNI.
The NGT directed the Chief Secretaries of all the States/UTs to oversee compliance at least every quarter and to ensure that authorization is secured by every health care facility in their respective jurisdiction and also there is adherence to the norms.
Similarly, the District Magistrates may, at their level, take necessary steps in their districts, in accordance with the District Environmental Plans.
