MPCB: NMC transported biomedical waste mixed garbage from NCI

Nagpur: Eight days after the incident, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has gone into action mode and accused Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s vehicle of transporting biomedical waste mixed garbage from National Cancer Institute to its garbage transfer station. The board has issued show cause notice and directed the civic body to reply within seven days.

TOI had on August 30 reported biomedical waste in huge quantity was found dumped along with garbage and dead pigs at the garbage transfer station of NMC’s garbage operator BVG India Pvt Ltd on August 29. Later, TOI highlighted BVG India’s machine unloaded the waste at the transfer station. The waste had been transported by vehicle engaged by NCI on rental basis. TOI has picture of vehicle loaded with black plastic bags inside NCI, and also copies of bills found with biomedical waste mixed garbage.

Citing the TOI report and inspection by an official on September 2, MPCB regional officer AM Kare issued notice to NMC’s deputy commissioner (biomedical waste) and said, “You have appointed M/s Raza Scrap Traders to collect municipal solid waste (MSW) with biomedical waste from NCI, Jamtha. You transported MSW along with biomedical waste from NCI to garbage transfer station. It shows your negative attitude towards implementation of environmental laws, and violating acts. It seems that you knowingly and willingly causing damage to environment by creating pollution in nearby area.”

MPCB officials told TOI, “NMC is responsible for following guidelines, so notice was issued to its officials. We have given permission to NMC, so its agency cannot be directly held responsible by us.”

Pictures and videos with TOI show biomedical waste clearly dumped with garbage at BVG India’s transfer station on August 29. Following TOI’s report, NMC had issued notice to NCI alleging biomedical waste was from the hospital and violated norms. NMC had also issued letter to district health officer, zilla parishad (ZP) asking to initiate action against NCI.

NCI secretary and CEO Shailesh Joglekar denied biomedical waste and garbage were dumped at Chikli (Kalamna) as stated in NMC’s notice. “We have appointed Super Hygienic Disposals (India) Pvt Ltd for a period between April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, for collection, transport, treatment and disposal of biomedical waste as per norms. We have been doing the same for last five years. You have received wrong information. Copies of our bills were in garbage and biomedical waste was not at all dumped,” he said.

Despite passage of nine days, NMC is yet to take any action against BVG India.