In a sweeping enforcement drive, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has ordered the closure of 69 healthcare facilities in Jammu and Srinagar for gross violations of the Bio-Medical Waste Management (BMWM) Rules, 2016 and other environmental laws.
Authorities have directed that these facilities immediately lose access to power and water connections, while the Directors of Health Services in both regions must initiate de-registration procedures against them.
Under the BMWM Rules, 2016, every healthcare institution involved in generating, collecting, storing, or disposing of biomedical waste must:
- Obtain authorization from JKPCC before operating.
- Ensure segregation, collection, and scientific disposal of biomedical waste.
- Adopt pollution control measures to meet prescribed environmental standards.
Despite multiple notices, these 69 units continued to operate without authorization, showing complete disregard for legal compliance.
Inspection Findings: Rampant Violations of Waste Disposal Laws
Recent inspections by JKPCC teams uncovered severe lapses in handling hazardous biomedical waste. Violations included:
- Improper segregation of waste.
- Unsafe storage and disposal methods.
- Lack of authorized consent from JKPCC.
Officials warned that such practices pose serious risks to public health and the environment by contaminating water, soil, and air.
JKPCC’s Tough Action Under Environmental Laws
Exercising its powers under:
- Section 33(A) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- Section 31(A) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
JKPCC ordered an immediate shutdown of all 69 facilities. Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar were instructed to enforce closure, while the Public Health Engineering Department and Power Development Department were told to disconnect water and electricity supplies without delay.
Officials Call It a Grave Violation
A senior JKPCC official stated:
“Unchecked biomedical waste is a silent killer that endangers both the environment and human health. Strict enforcement is the only way to stop this cycle of negligence.”
The crackdown is among the largest enforcement actions in J&K’s healthcare sector, and officials hinted that more facilities may face closure if violations continue.
Why Bio-Medical Waste Management Matters
The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change notified the BMWM Rules in 2016. These rules define biomedical waste as:
- Any waste generated during diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans or animals.
- Waste from research, biological testing, or health camps.
Institutions must seek consent under the Water Act (1974) and Air Act (1981), while also ensuring proper disposal to prevent pollution and disease outbreaks.
List of Healthcare Facilities Facing Closure in Jammu and Srinagar
In Srinagar:
- Al-Ameen Hospital (Hyderpora)
- Imam Hussain Hospital (Bemina)
- Well Care Medical Institute (Ahmad Nagar)
- Friends Hospital & Diagnostic Centre (Tengpora Road)
- Star Hospital (Sanat Nagar Bypass)
- Safa Marwah Medical Centre (Soura)
- Sheikh-ul-Alam Medical Centre (Karan Nagar)
- Ahmad’s Hospital (Nowgam)
- Care Hospital (Bemina)
- Mubarak Nursing Home (Hyderpora)
- Jaiyans Medical & Surgical Centre (Noorbagh)
- Ramzan Hospital (Gogji Bagh)
- Shifa Medical Centre (Magarmal Bagh)
- Classic Hospital & MRI Centre (Hyderpora)
- Medical Health Service Pvt. Ltd. (Kaka Saria)
In Jammu:
- Atulya Health Care Centres (Talab Tillo, Gujjar Nagar, Janipur)
- Air Med Multispecialty OPD & Dental Clinic (Bakshi Nagar)
- Sharda Dental Solutions (Akhnoor Road)
- Redcliffe Diagnostics (Talab Tillo, Lakkar Mandi)
- Smile-n-Shine Dental Clinic (Talab Tillo)
- Raina Multispecialty Dental Care (Camp Road)
- Netar Dental Clinic (New Plot)
- Shiva Diagnostic Lab (Paloura)
- Trident Diagnostic Laboratory (Red Cross Bhawan)
- V.K. Diagnostic Lab (New Plot)
- Dr. Lal Path Lab (Shalamar Road)
- Apollo Diagnostic Lab (Marh Gajansoo)
- Army Pathology Labs (Bakshi Nagar, Canal Road)
- ASCAN Diagnostic Centre (Kachi Chawni)
- Dhruv Diagnostic Centre (Bakshi Nagar)
- Sidhi Vinayak Dental Clinic (Lower Roop Nagar)
- … and many more across Talab Tillo, Janipur, Bakshi Nagar, Canal Road, Rehari, Moti Bazar, and Subash Nagar.
The closures raise serious questions about how many healthcare facilities across the Union Territory are operating without proper authorization.
Experts warn that unless strict compliance monitoring continues, biomedical waste mismanagement could trigger long-term environmental and health crises in the region.
