The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday directed the Railways to strictly impose a fine of `5,000 on those throwing waste on rail tracks and act against them effectively.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, said that there are shanties/temporary settlements and even permanent buildings adjacent to the railway tracks. “Why do you permit them to throw dirt on the tracksIJ Why can’t you stop them from throwing waste on the tracksIJ” he asked.
There are many buildings from New Delhi station to Subzi Mandi station which throws garbage daily, and are not stopped. If a penalty of `5,000 is slapped on them, they won’t dare to do it again, said the bench.
The tribunal also directed the Railways to produce a list of offenders who have been fined till date for throwing garbage and other waste on tracks.
The green panel had earlier slammed Railways over human defecation and other waste on rail lines and directed the authorities to expeditiously decide on rehabilitation of slum clusters located near the tracks.