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

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a five-member joint committee headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Health to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) aimed at reducing pollution in and around all government district hospitals or hospitals larger than district hospitals, including medical colleges.

The Tribunal was hearing the plea filed against environmental pollution in and around AIIMS, New Delhi.

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.

It is tasked with preparing an appropriate SOP for controlling pollution in and around government hospitals. It has been directed to finalize the SOP within three months and make it available on the website of the Ministry of Health.

“The Committee may specify issues to be covered within the complex and outside the boundary of the healthcare facility complex upto specified periphery for regulation and control of polluting activities which may be found necessary to offset adverse impact on environment,” the Tribunal said.

In the context of AIIMS, New Delhi the applicant had pointed out that there are sources of pollution inside as well as outside the AIIMS Campus which need to be adequately addressed.

In March, NGT had constituted an expert Committee to undertake visits to the site and identify remedial measures.

The report found certain violations and encroachments. “It is observed that the areas south and south east of AIIMS Campus have major concentration of activities, parking and encroachment and need to be addressed as a priority for managing parking and informal activities,” stated the report.

It was also stated that other activities that could be of concern in the surrounding area have also been studied and mapped. These activities “mainly include restaurants, construction activities and solid waste dumping.”

Considering the report, NGT opined that, “we accept the report and issue directions in terms thereof. We also agree that a hospital complex being an environmentally sensitive area, an environment management plan is required not only covering the campus but also surrounding periphery. 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. The committee's objective is to prepare an action plan based on the recommendations of the joint Committee and ensure its timely execution through monitoring.

“Ambient air quality in and around the campus be monitored and as and when it exceeds the laid down parameters within 500 meters of the boundaries of AIIMS, regulatory measures be taken in the light of Graded Response Action Plan1 (GRAP),” directed NGT.

The action plan is directed to be prepared preferably by July 31, 2023.

With regard to measures inside AIIMS campus, such as plantations, waste management etc. preparation of environment management action plan, “responsibility will be of the Director AIIMS in coordination with concerned departments,”NGT directed.

Case Title:Gaurav Sharma v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Ors.

For Applicant: Jasmine Damkewala, Advocate

For Respondents: Nishant Sharma, Assistant Professor, AIIMS

Narender Pal Singh, Advocate for DPCC

Puja Kalra, Advocate for Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Divya Prakash Pande, Advocate for NDM.

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