Cross-border bio-medical waste dumping: NGT asks Kerala Health Dept to furnish details on treatment capacity, waste generators
The Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Kerala’s Health Department to submit the details of the facilities and total capacity available for treating biomedical waste generated
The Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Kerala’s Health Department to submit the details of the facilities and total capacity available for treating biomedical waste generated by healthcare facilities across the State. The Southern Bench of the tribunal issued the directive in the case related to the illegal dumping of biomedical and mixed solid waste in various locations across Tiruneveli district of Tamil Nadu in December 2024. The Health Department and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board have been directed to furnish the actual number of healthcare facilities that have taken authorisation from the board for proper handling of waste.
The Bench is set to take up the matter for consideration on September 21, 2026. The authorities have also been directed to furnish the details of healthcare facilities handing over its waste to the Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities of the Indian Medical Association Goes Eco-friendly (IMAGE) (in Palakkad) and the Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (KEIL) (at Ambalamugal, Ernakulam). The Bench comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, and Prashant Gargava, expert member, have also asked for details of the total capacity available in the State for treatment of bio-medical waste and the action plan for treating the excess waste, if any, generated from the healthcare facilities.
The tribunal said such information may also be furnished for the districts bordering Tamil Nadu. The statement made by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board that action is being taken against the defaulters only on the basis of the information received so far from the IMAGE and KEIL is not acceptable. Unless the Kerala State Pollution Control Board has a thorough check on these issues, cross-border dumping of bio-medical waste cannot be prevented merely by setting up check-posts, it said. Seeks Central Pollution Control Board report The Bench directed the Central Pollution Control Board to submit an updated report on whether Kerala is complying with the standard operating procedure related to the handling and management of bio-medical waste.
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board had earlier informed the tribunal that IMAGE and KEIL are the two common facilities responsible for the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of bio-medical waste generated across the State. The board had assessed a total environment compensation of ₹1.12 crore on the waste generators and a collection agency responsible for the illegal dumping at six villages in Tirunelveli district.
The BriefWire