NGT recommends AIIMS Delhi environmental plan for government hospitals across India

New Delhi, May 30: In a move aimed at strengthening environmental governance in the healthcare sector, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has suggested that the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) prepared for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, be adapted and implemented in government hospitals across the country.

The recommendation came while the Principal Bench of the NGT disposed of M.A. No. 93/2024 in Original Application No. 202/2023, a case concerning air pollution within and around the AIIMS Delhi campus.

During earlier proceedings, the Tribunal had constituted a high-level Joint Committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The Committee was tasked with identifying pollution sources around major government hospitals and developing a framework for environmental management.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed the Tribunal that an “Environmental Management Plan for Hospitals” had been prepared and uploaded on the Ministry’s website. The plan was submitted before the Tribunal through an affidavit.

While acknowledging the Ministry’s compliance, the NGT observed that despite being titled as an Environmental Management Plan for Hospitals, the document is currently focused primarily on AIIMS Delhi.

The Tribunal suggested that the Ministry examine the feasibility of extending the framework, with suitable modifications, to other government hospitals nationwide.

The Bench, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Expert Member, and Dr. Afroz Ahmad, noted the development and disposed of the matter.

The recommendation is expected to encourage broader adoption of environmental management practices in public healthcare institutions, helping address issues such as air pollution, waste management, energy efficiency, and sustainable hospital operations across India.