“Railways To Be Regarded As Bulk Waste Generator”: Kerala HC Seeks Details From Southern Railway On Dumping Of Plastic Waste On Railway Tracks
The Kerala High Court sought details from Southern Railway over the steps taken by them to clear the waste and prevent further dumping of plastic waste on railway tracks.
The bench comprising Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice Gopinath P. took suo moto notice of the fact that the railway tracks and railway sidings have become dump yards of plastic waste and other waste that are generated from trains.
Senior Advocate Ranjith Thampan appeared for the Respondents.
The Court observed, “Most of the plastic waste that is found throughout the length and breadth of the railway tracks appears to be from the trains requiring the Railways to be regarded as a bulk waste generator.”
The Court said that under the Solid Waste Management Handling Rules, the Railways have a responsibility to prevent waste from being deposited on railway sidings and other properties.
The Court expressed concern that waste dumped alongside railway tracks often flows into the water bodies that the trains cross, causing significant environmental damage.
The Court was informed by the amici curiae that while plastic waste is being removed from railway station premises, there is a total disregard for the waste accumulating along the tracks beyond the stations. It was said that the lack of sufficient waste bins in train compartments results in large-scale dumping of plastic waste alongside the railway tracks.
After considering the alarming quantity of waste generated from the railways and the brazen manner in which it is dumped onto the side of the tracks, and the failure to remove that waste, the Court suggested that the railway authorities ought to focus on removing the waste already accumulated and prevent further dumping of such plastic waste.
Accordingly, the Court directed the authorities to file an affidavit before the Court detailing the steps initiated to clear the plastic waste from the railway tracks inside the State of Kerala and also the steps initiated by them to prevent further dumping of plastic waste on the railway sidings.
The Court listed the matter for July 26.
Appearance:
Advocate General Gopalkrishna Kurup, Sr. Adv. Renjith Thampan, SC K. Janardhana Shenoy, SC T. Naveen, SGP C.E. Unnikeishnan, SC Antony Mukkath, SPC T.C. Krishna, Adv. Vishnu S., Adv. Pooja Menon and Adv. Mohammed Shah