DPCC report on SMS Water Grace BMW (P) Ltd., 15/07/2020
Additional Compliance Report dated 15/07/2020 on behalf of DPCC in compliance of the National Green Tribunal order of November 20, 2019 in the matter of Amrita Puri Residential Colony Residents' Welfare Association Vs SMS Water Grace (P) Ltd. & Others. M/s SMS Water Grace BMW (P) Ltd., operator of common bio-medical waste treatment facility (CBWTF), it was observed that PM, NO2, total polychlorinated di-benzo dioxins and furans are exceeding the prescribed standards.
A show cause notice was issued on January 9, 2020 to show cause as to why the authorization granted under Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 should not be revoked and closure directions issued. Also, why environmental damage compensation should not be levied on it for operating the facility without meeting the prescribed standards.
In response to the show cause notice issued, the waste company submitted its reply on January 28, 2020 and February 3, 2020. As per the stack monitoring reports submitted by the CBWTF operator, the emissions are within the prescribed standards. However, it was established that the CBWTF operator was running the facility without meeting the emission standards for a period between the detection of violation and the subsequent stack monitoring carried out on December 30, 2019 when it was established that the emissions are meeting the standards.
Accordingly, the Environmental Damage Compensation of Rs. 4,00,000/- (Rupees four lakhs only) was assessed and communicated to the CBWTF operatory vide direction dated March 20, 2020. The CBWTF operator deposited the environmental compensation of Rs. 4 lakhs with DPCC in compliance of the aforesaid directions.
Another complaint, was received through email on April 27, 2020 from Amritapuri Resident Welfare Association regarding burning and storage of hospital waste in open space by M/s SMS Water Grace BMW (P) Ltd.
In order to verify the allegations in the complaint and to check whether the CBWTF was following the guidelines issued by the CPCB dated April 18, 2020 regarding safe handling, treatment and disposal of the waste arising out of COVID-19 pandemic, the inspection of the CBWTF was carried out on May 2, 2020. During the inspection, no burning of biomedical waste or evidence thereof was observed in the premises of CBWTF. Also, no biomedical waste was found stored in open space as alleged in the complaint.