NGT asks Railways, Delhi govt to ensure cleanliness on tracks

The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday directed the Railways and Delhi government to ensure that all the tracks entering the national Capital are “absolutely clean” by July 4. A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that Railway tracks which enter Delhi were full of solid wastes and the authorities would have to take steps on it.

“Please do something. You cannot keep on saying that this is not manageable,” the Bench told the Railways. “Railways and the NCT of Delhi should ensure that all the tracks entering Delhi are absolutely clean before next date of hearing,” it said and fixed the matter for hearing on July 4.

During the hearing, the Bench was informed that five out of the six slum clusters located near railway tracks here have been shifted.  The green panel had earlier slammed Railways over human defecation and other waste on the tracks and had also directed the authorities to expeditiously decide on rehabilitation of slum clusters located near the tracks.

It had also asked the authorities to impose a fine of Rs 5,000 on those defecating and throwing waste on tracks and act against them effectively.

The NGT had in December last year imposed a cost of Rs five lakh on Railways for failure to keep tracks and platforms in New Delhi clean after noting “definite negligence” and “intentional lack of will” on the part of all authorities.

The tribunal’s direction had come on a petition filed by lawyers Saloni Singh and Arush Pathania, which has alleged that railway authorities had failed to perform their statutory duties and were indirectly responsible for causing pollution at railway properties, particularly on the tracks.