The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Railways to “strictly” impose a fine of Rs. 5,000 on those littering rail tracks.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar on Monday said: “There are many buildings from New Delhi railway station to Subzi Mandi station which throw garbage daily. Why don’t you stop them? If you strictly impose a penalty of Rs. 5,000 on them, they won’t dare to do it again.”
The Tribunal direction has come on a petition filed by lawyers Saloni Singh and Arush Pathania, alleging that the railway authorities have failed to perform their statutory duties and are indirectly responsible for causing pollution on railway properties, particularly on the tracks.
The Tribunal also directed the Railways to produce a list of offenders who have been fined till date for throwing garbage and other waste on tracks.
Assurance given
Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for the Railways, assured the Bench that the work of cleaning tracks was a “continuous” one and the PSU behemoth was taking all requisite action against the violators.
During the hearing, the Tribunal also slammed Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) for the delay in relocation and rehabilitation of slum clusters near railway tracks.
The counsel appearing for DUSIB told the Bench that the work of survey in jhuggi clusters was going on and the process of identification of slums, which are to be shifted to flats, would commence shortly.
The green panel had earlier slammed Railways over human defecation and other waste on rail lines and directed the authorities to expeditiously decide on rehabilitation of slum clusters located near the tracks.
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