Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued closure notices to 32 healthcare facilities in the capital for inappropriate disposal of biomedical waste. The officials said that out of them, 10 have already been sealed.

This drive was started against those violating Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, as they were not disposing biomedical waste properly or not sending it to the authorized biomedical waste treatment units.

DPCC officials said that out of the 32 units, 19 are bedded and 13 are non-bedded. As 10 units have been sealed, the remaining have been asked to vacate the premises in due time as patients were already admitted in them. An official said that an environmental compensation has been issued against these 32 units with fines ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 24 lakh.

Currently, Delhi has only two authorized common biomedical waste treatment facilities. But, to improve compliance, tenders for more such facilities will be invited. DPCC said that action against defaulters was initiated on June 15 with special care being taken for hospitals that have patients at a critical stage. According to the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, all healthcare facilities operating in the capital, irrespective of the method of treatment and the quantity of waste generated, have to seek authorization from DPCC.

The DPCC official also said that healthcare facilities that generate biomedical waste are required to enter into an agreement with either one of the two biomedical waste treatment facilities in the city.