Northern Railways directed to construct warehouses on platforms for cement bag handling

Northern Railways directed to construct warehouses on platforms for cement bag handling

With a view to reducing air pollution caused by loading and unloading of cement, Northern Railways has been directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to build warehouses on platforms for cement bag handling.

Northern Railways has also been asked to submit its action plan to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and take steps to seek consent as per law by the NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar-helmed bench. Compliance with environmental norms may be further monitored by the CPCB and DPCC in the exercise of their statutory powers following due process of law, it said.

The Northern Railways' plea seeking setting aside of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) order imposing a Rs 71.62 lakh fine for failure to stop pollution was also junked by the green panel. Since compensation was needed to be imposed for defying environmental norms on the principle of polluter pays, there was no value in the application, the tribunal said.

The bench said, "The amount of compensation may be spent for restoration of the environment, in coordination with the Northern Railways." A committee in its report had earlier told the tribunal that proper action had not been taken by Northern Railways for implementing pollution control measures and health tests of workers engaged in the loading and unloading of cement.

City resident Anubhav Kumar filed a plea regarding pollution in and around the areas of Srinagar, Punjabi Bagh, Raja Park, Shakurbasti, Rani Bagh and Madipur near the Shakurbasti railway station due to the unscientific manner of loading and unloading cement. The plea was heard by the tribunal.

Mr Kumar said that this was causing serious air pollution and impacting people's health. "In spite of the fact that several representations have been made, the railway official is not doing anything in this regard," the plea said. Photographs were also produced by Mr Kumar to show how cement was being stocked in the open sans cover and dust emanating from it was causing severe air pollution in the area.