It is said cleanliness begins at home. And now, Railway officials and personnel from other civic agencies will take a train ride from New Delhi railway station to nearby stations to see the extent of waste, human or otherwise, on and along the tracks and other Railway properties.
The National Green Tribunal on Monday directed the Divisional Railway Manager (Delhi Division), municipal authorities, a representative from the Delhi Development Authority and other agencies to board a train from New Delhi station to Sadar Bazar, Shahdara, Sabzi Mandi and other stations. It also issued bailable warrants against the contractors engaged in cleaning of tracks and other property.
“Let all the officers concerned travel. Fill the whole bogie. Go from New Delhi station to Sadar Bazar etc. Look outside. It is shameful,” said a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.
“Preferably, we request you to make a movie of your travel. Let’s have some courtesy for the people who visit us.”
He also asked them to come back with their inputs to the NGT on January 29 along with remedial measures. “Look outside during your travel. All along it is full of municipal solid waste,” said Justice Kumar, who wanted to know from the counsel for Railways, Om Prakash, why no steps were being taken to clean the tracks. He shared how he had travelled by train recently and all along, the tracks were lined with waste.
Mr. Prakash told the Bench that the Railways had taken several measures, including making announcements asking people to use dustbins. He submitted that one of the biggest issue was settlements near the stations, whose residents use Railway property for every conceivable human activity.
At this, the counsel for the three civic bodies said the Railways had given Rs.1.25 crore for shifting of settlements to the DUSIB, which should be asked to take necessary action. To this, the NGT replied: “The corporations owe an obligation to make Delhi a clean place.”
