The Central Railway’s decision to revoke the plastic ban following opposition has landed them in more trouble, as an activist has filed a PIL in the high court against their move.
The CR had attempted to enforce a plastic ban from May 21, primarily focusing on reducing plastic waste on tracks that eventually resulted in water logging. Under this, food items packed in plastic wrappings were banned. The CR’s move aimed to make stations plastic-free.
However, the ban was revoked on July 12 after social activist Medha Patkar and a delegation of the passenger association met CR general manager Subodh Jain. Ms Patkar had stated that the ban had resulted in many stallowners losing their livelihood.
However, this has not gone down well with few. “If they (CR) themselves enforced the ban, why was it taken back when the delegation met them? said Bipin Gandhi, president of Rail Parishad, Maharash-tra that has filed the PIL adding, “If the CM, municipality and even the SC has ordered that there should be no plastic use, then why did the CR revoke the ban?”
Every monsoon, CR services are severely affected due to water logging.