Keep rail tracks in India free of defecation: NGT

One-liner: The National Green Tribunal has directed the Railways to ensure that tracks are not used for defecation and waste water disposal from habitation nearby.

Petitions heard: A bench of NGT, which heard petitions filed by two lawyers, said private agencies hired for catering or for sanitary management should not dispose waste other than at designated places.

Model design plan: In the interest of hygiene and public health, the bench said it is necessary that the Railway Board ensures development of a model design plan to enable individual stations to evolve a suitable environment management plan.

• The NGT said the locomotive maintenance working area generating hazardous waste, oils, scrap, etc may have waste processing or treatment facility duly authorised by state pollution control board under waste management rules.
• The NGT had earlier directed the Railways to identify and develop at least 36 stations as eco-smart stations and to submit an action plan for maintaining cleanliness on platforms and tracks.

Green panel wants regular audits: The green panel had asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct a performance audit at regular intervals.

• The NGT had said there was an urgent need for the Railways to put in place an effective implementation and monitoring mechanism with provisions of fixing accountability of individuals in respect of solid waste disposal.

Source: PTI