New Delhi:
The National Green Tribunal today pulled up the Railways for its failure to check littering on tracks near New Delhi railway station, saying "you are creating havoc in the society".
"We have one of the greatest heritage in the world. What will the people coming to national capital think about the state of affairs in the country. At least you all do some work honestly," a bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The bench was hearing a plea seeking a blanket ban on use and sale of plastic products on railway platforms across the country besides imposing a ban on open defecation by people around the tracks.
The green panel asked the railways' counsel to show how many people were fined for throwing garbage on railway tracks as directed by it earlier.
The counsel submitted that although some people were fined by the authorities but most of them were poor, unwilling and incapable to pay the fine imposed by the tribunal for throwing garbage on tracks.
"You (railways) don't do the charity at the cost of others. You are creating a havoc in the society. Just travel five minutes from New Delhi railway station towards Sadar Bazaar and Sabzi Mandi areas and you will find huge heaps of garbage thrown on and besides railway tracks," the bench said.
It asked the counsel for Railways whether any dustbins have been installed in those localities and whether people were being made aware about it as directed by the tribunal.
The counsel submitted that though in some areas dustbins were kept but people were still throwing garbage on tracks.
"We have honest officials who are continously working to sort out the problem and who want the things to be done," the counsel submitted.
The bench, however, looked dissatisfied with the submission and said, "If you were so honest, nothing in the world would have deterred you from taking measures. You have tribunal's order, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and workers at your disposal."
The green panel then asked the Railways to take an area as a case study and put all measures to dissuade people from throwing garbage on tracks and then replicate the same at other places.
"You need to provide incentives and encourage people to throw garbage in dustbins and if still anyone throws garbage and refuses to pay fine, take them into custody," the bench said.
It also asked the Railways to place on record the picture of the area in which the work is being done and give the names of the people who have been fined for throwing garbage.
The bench had on July 2 also directed the Railways to submit a list of offenders who have refused to pay fine and dumped waste on the tracks.
Taking a stern view on houses constructed near railway tracks, the tribunal had directed that if any municipal solid waste is found on tracks, each person living in those houses and throwing garbage shall be liable to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation for causing pollution.
The green bench had also asked the authorities concerned to install mobile toilets near slum clusters to control pollution caused by plastic products and human defecation around railway tracks.
On March 2, the tribunal had summoned the Railway Board Chairman with records of the platforms and railway tracks, which are continuous sources of environmental pollution causing serious health hazards.