During an
inspection by Sri Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, Salem, in the Salem Vridhachalam
Section today (01/12/2016), it was seen that there was a lot of defaction by
human excreta in the entire section, particularly between Salem Town and
Minnampalli railway stations. Defacation of railway tracks is a punishable
offence with fine up to Rs.500 and/or imprisonment, under Indian Railways Act,
1989, Indian Railways (Penalties for activities
affecting cleanliness at railway premises) Rules 2012 and Environment
Protection Act 1986. The
notification issued by the Railway Board on November 26, 2012, under Railways
Act, 1989, prohibits littering in any occupied or unoccupied railway premises
or the carriage, and bars an individual from cooking, bathing, spitting,
urinating, feeding animals or birds, repairing or washing vehicles, washing
utensils or clothes or any other objects or keep any type of storage in any
railway premises.
Such defacation,
apart from polluting the environment, also poses a threat to the safety and
longevity of the railway tracks, by way of fast corrosion and deterioration. In
addition, it also becomes difficult for railway personnel to work on track, as
it creates health hazard to them, apart from being lower to the human dignity
to work in such a polluted environment. Despite many awareness campaigns in the
area, the practice of using the railway tracks continues, resulting in frequent
ran over track deaths as well, time and again.
With a view to
curb this menace, Salem Division, Southern Railway, is taking up a special
drive against such defacation in the entire stretch between Salem and
Vridhachalam, starting from tomorrow (02.12.2016), as per the directions of Sri
Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, Salem.
The public are
therefore advised not to defacate the railway tracks nor use them for any other
purposes such as drying of clothes, etc. failing which they will be apprehended
by Railway Protection Force officials, liable to pay fine up to Rs.500 and/or
undergo imprisonment.
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