The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to several authorities, including the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), demanding an explanation regarding the illegal dumping of medical waste in Mirgalwadi village, located in the Daund tehsil of Pune district, Maharashtra. The tribunal’s action follows a suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report which highlighted the environmental and health hazards posed by the dumped waste.
The bench, led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel, has also impleaded the district magistrate of Pune, the Nagpur regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Commissioner of Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration as parties to address this pressing issue.
During the proceedings, it was noted that the medical waste, which included injection boxes without identifying labels, was found near the Khadakwasla canal—an important source of water for both agriculture and drinking. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and MP Supriya Sule had previously raised concerns about the potential health risks this negligence could cause to citizens and livestock.
The tribunal emphasized the seriousness of the matter by referencing the substantial issues related to non-compliance with environmental norms reported in the media. “As per the article, the negligence in dumping biomedical waste poses serious health risks,” stated the order dated January 13.
The NGT has scheduled further proceedings for February 27, where it will take place before the western zonal bench in Pune. The implicated authorities are expected to file their responses or replies, shedding light on the actions taken to mitigate the situation and prevent future occurrences.
