Decide slum rehabilitation expeditiously: NGT to Delhi govt

The National Green Tribunal today directed Delhi government and other concerned authorities to expeditiously decide on rehabilitation of slum clusters near railway tracks.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the city government, railways, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board and Delhi Development Authority to hold a meeting at the earliest and submit complete action plan with regard to slums.
"DDA, NCT of Delhi, Railways along with Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board shall hold a meeting and would submit complete action plan on shifting of slums," the bench said and listed the matter for next hearing on May 3.

The green panel had earlier slammed the authorities in Delhi for relocating only 257 jhuggis till date and directed them to decide on rehabilitation of slum clusters near railway tracks on "top priority".
It had also pulled up the Railways over human defecation and other waste on tracks and asked the PSU behemoth to impose a fine of Rs 5,000 on those defecating and throwing waste on the railway lines and act against them effectively.
The tribunal had in December imposed a cost of Rs 5 lakh on the Railways for failure to keep tracks and platforms in New Delhi station clean after noting "definite negligence" and "intentional lack of will" on the part of all authorities.

The green bench was hearing a plea by lawyers Saloni Singh and Arush Pathania, which said the railway authorities had failed to perform their statutory duties and were indirectly responsible for causing pollution at railway properties, particularly on the tracks.