National Green Tribune slams Railways over defecation on tracks

Coming down heavily on the Railways, it has asked the PSU behemoth to impose fine of Rs 5,000 on those defecating and throwing waste on tracks and act against them effectively. 

“You can’t keep even 15 km of railway stretch in the capital clean. If you claim the tracks to be clean, how can garbage be there?... We direct all the authorities including the corporations to fully cooperate and ensure that the railway tracks are kept clean, free from municipal solid waste and other waste and dirty water not be collected near the tracks. Let status report be submitted before the tribunal before March 30, the next date of hearing,” it said.

The bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the Delhi government and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to expeditiously decide rehabilitation of slum clusters located near railway tracks and directed them to submit complete action plan regarding their relocation. 

“The Delhi Development Authority, NCT of Delhi, Railways along with DUSIB shall hold a meeting within two weeks from today and would submit complete action plan to the tribunal in regard to shifting of settlements from or adjacent to the tracks by providing alternative accommodation either by way of flats which are stated to be ready or by providing piece of land where NCT of Delhi can construct flats,” the bench said. 

It asked the Delhi government to utilise the amount of Rs 11 crore, which is lying with it since 2003, with interest for the rehabilitation of slums.