Goa PCB notifies guidelines for imposing Environmental Compensation Charges on Health Care Facilities and Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities
Goa Pollution Control Board has issued guidelines for imposing Environmental Compensation Charges (“ECC”) on Health Care Facilities and Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities as issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (“CPCB”).
CPCB has developed a methodology for assessing environmental compensation for non-compliance by the healthcare facilities based on certain factors such as Health Risk associated, type of Healthcare Facility, size of operations, collection, handling, storage, transportation, and disposal of biomedical wastes. Similarly, for the Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (“CBWTF”) the assessment of compensation based on the Pollution Index will be done on the basis of compliance to emission norms, effluent discharge, sterilization process, and compliance to other provisions under Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules 2016 (“BMWM Rules”).
Environmental Compensation Charges for Health Care Facilities
ECC will be levied on the Health Care Facilities in the following cases:
• In case there is no authorization under BMWM Rules 2016.
• In case there is no arrangement with CBWTF for disposal of biomedical wastes.
• In case of improper segregation of generated bio medical wastes as per colour coded system prescribed under BMWM Rules 2016.
• In case there is no facility for pre-treatment of yellow (h) category waste ( micro-biology, biotechnology, and other clinical laboratory waste).
• In case where storage facility is not provided for segregated bio medical wastes (applicable to bedded hospital).
• In case where Effluent Treatment Plant is not provided for waste water and also the city sewerage network is not connected to terminal STP.
• In case of non-compliance to other responsibilities as stipulated for Healthcare Facilities under BMWM Rules 2016.
Note: A detailed methodology for computing the ECC has also been provided. It is to be noted that the minimum ECC for Healthcare Facility shall not be less than Rs 1200 per day.
Further, in order to discourage the violation of BMWM Rules a deterrent factor has also been introduced for recurring violations i.e., the ECC will increase by multiple times in cases where the Healthcare facilities:
• Fails to comply with action points within the stipulated time as may be directed by the CPCB or State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee.
• Fails to comply during re-inspections
A detailed list of incremental charges has also been provided.
Environmental Compensation Charges for Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities
ECC will be levied on the Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities in the following cases:
• In case where the incinerator emission does is complying with standards prescribed under the BMWM Rules 2016.
• In case where the treated waste water is not complying with standards prescribed under the BMWM Rules 2016
• In case of non-compliance with standards of autoclave / microwave prescribed under BMWM Rules 2016.
• In case where the bio-medical wastes are not collected from all the Health Care Facilities timely.
• Other violations of BMWM Rules 2016 or CPCB Guidelines.
A detailed methodology for computing the ECC to be levied on the Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities has also been provided.
A copy of the Notification is linked below for ease of reference.
Source: Goa Pollution Control Board
