Majority of trains lack bio-toilets, polluting track continuously
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 23: Katra Railway Station, which is visited by thousands of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims every day, is a blot on the Green Station concept of the Railways Ministry. Moreover, 78 kilometers track from Jammu Railway Station to Katra has failed to become Green Corridor due to absolute non-seriousness of the concerned authorities of the Northern Railways.
In November 2009, Railway Board set up a core group to decide suitable environment friendly toilets for use in the trains by carrying out feasibility studies, techno-economic analysis and drawing up an action plan for implementation of environment friendly toilets.
The core group in January 2010 recommended adoption of the bio-digester technology for development of suitable bio-toilets to be fitted in passenger coaches in order to ensure disposal of human waste in an eco-friendly manner.
Finally, the concept of Green Train Station and Green Corridors was introduced by the Railways Ministry to minimize the impact on environmental hygiene through elimination of direct discharge of human waste from toilets in coaches on the tracks and aprons thereby avoiding corrosion and increasing the life of track.
As per norms of Green Train Station all the originating, terminating, bypassing and platform return trains should have 100% bio-toilet fitted coaches. Similarly, the tracks on the Green Corridor are to be made free from human waste discharge.
As per the decision taken in the conference of the Railway Board held on April 24 and 25, 2015, all the Zonal Railways were directed to nominate at least one station as Green Train Station or a section as Green Corridor. Further, the Zonal Railways were directed to consolidate bio-toilet fitted coaches in rakes for better monitoring of performance of bio-toilets.
Accordingly, during the period between November 2014 and August 2015, six stations were identified for development as Green Train Stations and five sections were nominated for Green Corridors. These stations included Katra Railway Station and corridors included 78 kilometers track from Jammu Railway Station to Katra.
Though Katra Railway Station and 78 kilometers track from Jammu up to base camp of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine were notified as Green Station and Green Corridor on August 7, 2015 and target date of implementation of concept was January 30, 2016 yet till date the concept has not been implemented by the Northern Railways, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has pointed out in its report tabled in the Parliament few days back, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
In this way, the Katra Railway Station has acted as blot on the innovative concept of the Railways Ministry. “Due to lack of adequate number of coaches fitted with bio-toilets, the concept of Green Train Station was yet to take off on Katra Railway Station as on March 31, 2017”, the CAG said.
Out of total 14 pairs of trains originating, terminating, bypassing and platform return trains from Katra Railway Station only three trains were fully equipped with bio-toilets while nine trains were partially equipped with bio-toilets and the remaining two trains didn’t have any bio-toilet, the CAG said.
It has been pointed out that when Jammu Mail was inspected on arrival at Katra Railway Station, it was found that bio-toilets were provided only in six out of 23 coaches. Nine bio-toilets were found chocked and foul smell was emanating from 14 bio-toilets. During the inspection human waste was also found on apron at the station.
It has also been observed that majority of the trains originating and terminating from Katra Railway Station were continuously polluting the track because of non-serious approach of the concerned authorities of the Northern Railways.
“It is a matter of concern that Katra Railway Station which is visited by thousands of pilgrims every day has become the victim of non-serious approach of the concerned authorities”, sources said, adding “foul smell particularly when the trains cross the tunnels on Jammu-Katra railway line is not only irritating the passengers most pilgrims but also earning bad name to the Northern Railways, which otherwise should have paid serious attention towards Green Station and Green Corridor concept especially in the light of the fact that thousands of pilgrims avail this service to reach the base camp of major pilgrimage spot”.
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