New Delhi: The much touted “Clean India” campaign seems to have fizzled out as the country continues to wallow in dirt and filth.
At least one group has decided to take the campaign seriously. Northern Railway has been collecting between 75,000 and 90,000 rupees as fines every week through a clean drive it imposed on its stations.
Teams of Railway Protection Force officials and ticket collectors have been formed to keep an eye and catch offenders. Officials added that those who refused to pay were taken to a magistrate.
One has to pay between 200 to 500 rupees fines if someone throws paper, leave eatable on the floor, spit at corners or urinated in public in New Delhi Railway Station.
“We have tried to educate passengers to keep the stations clean, but now we have started imposing hefty fines. We will soon extend this to other stations soon,” Arun Arora, Delhi divisional railway manager, Northern Railways, told The Times of India.
Officials said fines collected are expected to increase as the drive is going to be intensified in the coming weeks. “It is not possible to keep stations clean unless passengers, vendors and those using the premises contribute equally,” Arora said.
He said the railway has given strict orders to vendors to keep a waste bin near their stalls. “We are also ensuring that dustbins are emptied every two hours. We expect weekly fines to increase to 100,000 rupees. The drive will be extended to Old Delhi station within a week,” Arora said.
In June, Northern Railways collected 230,000 rupees as fines at New Delhi railway station. Also, 50 people were prosecuted for not paying fines and taken to a magistrate, where they eventually paid the penalty. RPF personnel have been assisting railway staff as many people aggressively defended themselves and refused to pay the fine.
“Officials have been strictly directed not to be lenient. However, in cases where the offenders could not pay the entire sum, they were fined 50-100 rupees and let off with a warning,” the DRM added.