Implementation of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016
In twelve states and Union Territories, common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facilities (CBWTF) are being used exclusively for the treatment and disposal of biomedical waste, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) told the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Captive treatment and deep burial methods are not being utilised in these regions, CPCB stated in a report on April 15, 2025. In the remaining 24 states and UTs, captive treatment facilities and deep burial methods are being used alongside CBWTFs.
According to the report, 82 healthcare facilities (HCF) operate captive incinerators, while 17,800 HCFs use deep burial for biomedical waste disposal. The report explained that deep burial involves placing biomedical waste in a pit or trench, which is then covered with soil and lime.
Under the Biomedical Waste Management (BMWM) Rules, 2016, certain categories of biomedical waste — such as human anatomical waste, animal anatomical waste and soiled waste — may be disposed of via deep burial in areas without access to CBWTFs.
Deep burial is permitted only in rural or remote areas and must be carried out with prior approval from the relevant state pollution control board (SPCB) or pollution control committee (PCC).
Out of the 17,800 HCFs using deep burial, 15,614 are located in remote areas and are compliant with the BMWM Rules, 2016, the report said.
The Kerala SPCB submitted that it is in the process of phasing out captive treatment facilities, including deep burial, in 29 HCFs. However, the process has been delayed due to legal challenges by the concerned HCFs.
The CPCB report recommended that deep burial be permitted strictly in rural or remote areas, in line with the standards prescribed under the BMWM Rules, 2016. It also urged SPCBs and PCCs to monitor and ensure compliance with the rules and to expedite the establishment of CBWTFs in remote areas where deep burial is still in use.
So far, the CPCB has not received any complaints or reports of environmental impact resulting from deep burial. However, the report cautioned that improper management of deep burial could lead to environmental pollution. Therefore, it reiterated that such disposal methods should only be permitted in accordance with the BMWM Rules, 2016.
The Climate Parliament delegation, consisting of lawmakers from Brazil, along with Indian Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies, and Climate Parliament India staff, visited Greenko’s Integrated Renewable Energy Project (IREP) at Pinnapuram, Kurnool today.
ReplyDeleteGroup COO & ED Maurya Pydah and Project Director Srinivasa Rao led a detailed tour of the project. The delegation visited various components of this world-first, largest GW-scale Integrated Renewable Energy Project.
The delegation was also briefed about Greenko’s Intelligent RE Cloud Storage Platform, where 100 GWh of storage will be developed through multiple PSP projects across India, integrated by renewables. They learned how Greenko’s Integrated Renewable Energy Storage Project at Pinnapuram is at the epicenter of the global energy transition. Coupled with India’s One Nation One Grid policy, it is enabling the production of reliable, efficient, and lowest-cost, carbon-free energy and molecules—strengthening the nation’s energy security while playing a pivotal role in the push towards global decarbonization. The delegation commended the swift execution of the project and how it helps avoid 3.3 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
The delegation included Senator of the Republic for Espรญrito Santo Fabiano Contarato, Federal Deputy Paranรก Carol Dartora, Federal Deputy for Sรฃo Paulo Nilto Tatto, Senator for Sergipe Alessandro Vieira, Network Manager Climate Parliament Lilia Chanaoui, Indian Member of Parliament Kalahandi, Smt. Malvika Devi Ji, MLA Chomu Rajasthan, Dr. Shikha Meel Barala Ji, MLA Katangi Madhya Pradesh, Shri Gaurav Singh Pardhi Ji, MLA Khategaon Madhya Pradesh, Shri Aashish Govind Sharma Ji, MLA Sidhi, Smt. Riti Pathak Ji, Chief Policy Advisor Climate Parliament, Dr.Sanjay Kumar, and India Lead & Project Director Climate Parliament, Mr.Raj Pal. The Member of Parliament from Kurnool Shri Bastipati Nagaraju Ji joined the tour, met, and welcomed the delegation.