Hospitals are expected to set an example when it comes to hygiene and safe disposal of medical waste. However, a shocking reality has come to light. Between January 2023 and May 2026, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) fined hospitals and healthcare facilities a total of Rs 25.69 lakh for improper disposal of bio-medical waste. Among all the city zones, hospitals from Dharampeth Zone which covers Gokulpeth, Ram Nagar, Dharampeth, Shankar Nagar, Ambazari, Futala, Civil Lines, emerged as biggest offenders, with 51 of the 155 violations detected during inspections by the NMC’s Nuisance Detection Squad (NDS), raising serious concerns over public health and environmental safety. The statistics came to light following a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by activist Abhay Kolarkar. According to the official data provided by Virsen Tambe, Special Executive Officer of the NDS, the civic body penalised healthcare institutions for failing to deliver waste to designated centres and dumping hazardous materials in public spaces.

 

The official document exposes a stark disparity in environmental compliance across different urban zones. Dharampeth Zone topped the list of offenders, with NMC slapping local medical facilities with Rs 9.65 lakh in penalties. Lakadganj Zone followed as second-highest violator with 25 cases and Rs 3 lakh in fine, while Hanuman Nagar registered 17 cases, drawing Rs 2.59 lakh in penalties. According to Tambe, “Every day a special medical waste collecting vehicle collects bio-medical waste from these health institutions but still sometimes few institutions do not follow the practice and throw medical waste on open ground. For such health institutions who violate rules for the first time, the fine is Rs 25,000, for second time violators it is Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh for third time with strict action from the Health Department.”

 

The data further reveals the total amount of bio-medical waste collected since January 2023 is 5,998 kg. Despite the high number of violations, NMC’s Health Department and Solid Waste Management Department clarified that 100 per cent of the legally collected bio-medical waste is processed. The garbage is systematically destroyed at Bhandewadi Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) Processing Plant in compliance with Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Central Bio-medical Waste Disposal Rules. NMC has authorised a private agency, M/s Superb Hygienic Disposals, to manage collection, transportation, and processing. While the firm collects handling fees directly from waste generators, it pays a royalty of Rs 41.63 lakh to NMC. The enforcement data underscores the need for stricter daily monitoring in medical hubs to curb illegal dumping.