Here's how much you litter, Mumbai! Just on railway tracks and premises, the Western and Central Railways has collected close to 122 tonnes of garbage in a mere 15 days — between September 16-30 — as part of special cleanliness drive called 'Swachhata Hi Sewa'. Of this, roughly 70% garbage, or around 85 tonnes, was mainly collected from the Mumbai division of both these railway zones. The drive was part of celebrations for the 150th Gandhi Jayanti to be observed on October 2.
In the same duration, the WR fined 3,926 passengers and collected Rs 7.60 lakh for littering under Section 198 of the Railways Act.
Senior railway officials said that most of this garbage was collected from its premises i.e. stations, trains, offices, colonies, workshops, maintenance depots, hospitals, etc. "We are trying to make a special emphasis on eradicating the use of plastics on railway premises," said a WR official.
PAIN POINTS
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- The repercussions of this indiscriminate littering are felt during monsoon when garbage blocks the entry/exit points of gutters and drainage systems
- This year too, there was water-logging on both lines due to choked drainage despite being widened and over 1.50-lakh kg muck removed
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Of the 122-tonne collected, 109 tonnes was only on the WR (across all divisions), while the remaining was from all divisions of CR. The rail officials claim that the illegal slums and occupants residing along the railway tracks are one of the biggest contributors to this unnecessary dumping of garbage.
Some of the locations seen with garbage strewn around are along the rail lines near Wadala, Jogeshwari, Mankhurd, Govandi, Kurla, Mahim, Dahisar, Bandra, Sandhurst Road, etc.
Some months ago, the railways and local civic bodies had even decided to levy fines on those caught throwing garbage on rail premises, but it did not go any further.
This year, as part of the Swachhta Pakhwada, the Railways commenced its 'Swachhata Awareness Diwas' by administering the Swachhta pledge to all the active participants, including ministerial staff, departmental/contractual catering staff, shoe shine boys, sahayaks, Contractual housekeeping staff, among other. More than 3,600 cloth bags were also distributed on the WR.
