New Delhi. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has questioned the system of railways regarding waste management system at stations, coaching depots, maintenance and production units. In the report tabled in Parliament regarding waste management in Indian Railways, it was told by the CAG that there is no single agency in the Indian Railways which is solely responsible for handling the issues related to waste management.
Despite assurances to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to set up Directorate of Engineering and Health Management at zonal and divisional level, the same was partially complied with by the Indian Railways. In the sample investigation, it was found that accountable institutions were not formed at 38.60 percent railway stations, divisions and zonal level.
The report also said that the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) were not followed in 59 of the selected 109 stations. Further, the progress in the implementation of verifiable indicators in the other 65 selected major stations was not encouraging. In addition, segregated waste collected from pantry cars and trains with on board housekeeping services (OBHS) in 45 per cent of the test checked stations was not put in secure bags.
The report said that in 86 per cent of the stations tested, the waste collected from pantry cars or OBHS trains was not dumped in separate dustbins. It was also found that 102 units (out of 131 selected) contained hazardous waste. Non-adherence to the norms of storage and labeling of the IS posing a potential hazard to the environment and to the people engaged in these units, for failing to ensure basic conditions for segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste by the Railways. The CAG has expressed concern about the arrangement.