Pollution In AIIMS: NGT Constitutes Committee To Form SoP For Reducing Pollution In, Around Government Hospitals

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal has constituted a five-member joint committee headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Health to develop Standard Operating Procedures aimed at reducing pollution in and around all government district hospitals or hospitals larger than district hospitals, including medical colleges. While hearing the matter the bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Dr. A. Senthil Vel said, “…since there are identical issues in several other government hospitals, including Safdarjung hospital opposite AIIMS itself, it appears to be necessary to issue directions with regard to the same.” In the light of the situation revealed by the report of the joint Committee, environmental management inside and around such healthcare appears to be necessary in the interest of protection of the rights of patients, staff and other visitors to clean the environment, it added. Expressing the importance of the issue the Tribunal said, “this requires issuance of an appropriate SOP by MoEF&CC and Ministry of Health, GoI after study and due consideration of the subject.” The Tribunal constituted a five-member joint Committee to be headed by Secretary, Ministry of Health with representatives of MoEF&CC, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Home Affairs, not below the rank of Joint Secretary and nominee of CPCB not below the rank of Director. Prohibited and regulated activities need to be identified and mentioned in such plan with nodal agency for monitoring compliance and dedicated funds.” To address issues outside the AIIMS campus, such as traffic congestion control and removal of encroachments, the Tribunal constituted an eight-member joint Committee comprising Traffic Police, NDMC, PWD, DDA, Delhi Police, AIIMS, CPCB, and DPCC.