NGT voices concern over lack of cleanliness on platforms

Concerned over lack of cleanliness on platforms and railway tracks, the National Green Tribunal today directed Chief Commercial Manager (CCM) and Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Delhi to personally visit the areas and apprise it of the existing situation.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, also issued bailable warrants against contractors, engaged by the railways for cleanliness of municipal solid waste on platforms and railway tracks, for not appearing before it despite issuance of notice.
"Why don't you take steps to clean the railway stations. What are you doing with the money collected from the fine imposed on offenders?

"We direct the counsel appearing for the railways, Chief Commercial Manager, DRM of Delhi Division, officers of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), three municipal corporations and DDA to travel via train to Sonipat and inform the Tribunal of the situation existing on railway tracks and platforms and suggest measures for improvement of the same," the bench said.
The matter was fixed for further consideration on January 29.
On the issue of utilisation of Rs 11.25 crore given to municipal corporation by the railways for maintenance of cleanliness, advocates Balendu Shekhar and Vivek Jaiswal, appearing for three municipal corporations, told the bench that MCD was not the authority concerned and the amount has been transferred to DUSIB.

During the hearing, the counsel for railways, Om Prakash, submitted an affidavit on behalf of the General Manager, Northern Railways, stating that the railways has launched awareness campaign through newspapers. The advertisements have been carried in 67 newspapers advising the general public about cleanliness at stations.