Dumping trash on tracks becomes normal of Rly housekeeping!
| Date :04-Jan-2024 |
By Ankita Garg
Despite Railway’s strict guidelines to follow proper garbage disposal standard, on-board housekeeping staff found to be throwing the garbage on railway track from moving train at various spots. Talking about the issue, many passengers said that this is a normal practice for the house-keeping staff as they have seen it many times. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ a railway passenger Sunita Patel said, “I was travelling from Rajkot to Bhopal in Somanath-Jabalpur Express train on December 2 and on the way I saw the housekeeping staff dumping trash at three stations Ahmedabad, Surendra Nagar and Wankner Junction. I also tried to record video but they asked me to go to the seat. I am really surprise to see the garbage treatment of these railway staff.” He further said, house-keeping staff dumped the food waste and diapers of toddlers on track with the help of floor wiper.
Passengers said that it is really admirable that railway is maintaining sanitation and cleanliness in all trains. Dustbins, wash basins, floor, toilet is being cleaned at certain stations and people are really enjoying the journey in neat and clean environment but at the same time, ill-treatment with the garbage is to be criticised. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ over phone, Bhopal Railway PRO Subedar Singh said, “We have strict guidelines for the garbage disposal and violation of guidelines is punishable act. Under no circumstances, any material should be thrown outside the moving train or outside of stall or catering units. Our Sr DME can be contacted on this issue to know the current status of on-board housekeeping staff.” ‘The Hitavada’ team also tried to contact Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineering (Sr DME CO) Bhopal, Anurag Tripathi but he avoided talking to the newspaper on this issue. He texted that he is in board meeting and want to see the pictures only then he can comment. As per railway guidelines, in case waste is founding lying around the track or in open area, responsibility will be fixed on the static concerned person. Garbage collected from different points is disposed off to the places nominated by local municipal corporation.
Another passenger Sunita Deshpande, who was waiting for her train at Bhopal Junction on January 3 said, “I was waiting for my train at the platform for an hour and in the meantime I saw a train passing from the platform and when the train took halt at platform number 3, the house-keeping staff started dumping the garbage bags at back side of track.” She further said that there is no particular contact number displayed at station platform where one can filed complaint in this regards. ‘The Hitavada’ team checked the track around Bhopal and Rani Kamalapati Railway Station and found many garbage bags, sack, trash dumped on the track. There were food waste, disposable plates, glass, plastic bags, water bottles, baby diapers, sanitary napkin, etc lying around the track and even in many areas street dogs, cow, etc cattle were eating up the litter.