The Bombay High Court has sought the
Central Railway’s response to a PIL
seeking to re-impose the ban on plastic bags of food items at railway
platforms.
A bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka has also asked
the Railway authorities to provide sufficient number of dustbins on platforms
on its suburban network and in local and long-distance trains.
The PIL, filed by Rail Parishad, an NGO of
commuters, sought a direction to the Central Railways to implement its circular
dated May 21, 2012, seeking a ban on plastic bags by the Railway food stalls on
platforms.
The petition claimed the circular had been withdrawn
on July 2, 2012, after stall owners under the leadership of activist Medha
Patkar had organised an agitation.
Demanding that the circular be re-introduced again,
the PIL said that plastic bags could not be recycled and so paper bags or cloth
bags should be used which can keep the environment pollution free.
The petition has further urged the High Court to
call for reports from the Central Railway and the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner
regarding steps taken to collect plastic waste dumped in drains in view of the
forthcoming monsoon.
The matter has been posted for further hearing in
June after the vacations.
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