Centre, SC spar over panel on waste disposal

The Centre has disapproved of Supreme Court’s suggestion to constitute a central monitoring committee to supervise the disposal of hazardous waste discharged from hospitals and industries.

The Centre has disapproved of Supreme Court’s suggestion to constitute a central monitoring committee to supervise the disposal of hazardous waste discharged from hospitals and industries.

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In response to a court direction, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) filed its affidavit stating a monitoring committee at the Centre wasn’t required in the wake of steps initiated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), state board and pollution control committee (PCC) for an effective disposal of hazardous waste

The ministry also informed the court about a national inventory of hazardous waste general by the CPCB that had published a report on the same in February 2010. The board also gave directions to state pollution control boards to ensure setting up of environment-friendly treatment storage and disposal facilities (TSDF).

According to the ministry, the TSDF facility has been significantly expanded and at present there were 16 integrated common TSDF and six exclusive common incinerators and 14 secured landfills common facilities for disposal of hazardous waste.

Sixteen states are equipped have secured landfills, while 11 have incinerators to dispose of such wastes.

These states contribute about 97.8% of waste that can be dumped in landfills and 88.1% of hazardous waste for incinerators.