Port of dump!

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, FEBRUARY 16

Ever since International Dry Port (IDP) opened at Khasa railway station, its new platforms have become an eyesore.

It seems that the platforms may soon seamlessly transform into a dump yard with the advancing days. Large sheets of plastic, plastic cups, bottles and plates, polythene bags and a lot more can be seen scattered. The scene doesn’t just end here as the same litter drifts to the nearby fields of agriculture, irking the farmers.

Daily at least one goods train arrives and a large number of trucks to leave or collect the goods. The drivers of these trucks, along with railway officials, don’t have any scruples while littering the platforms, be it from the train or while having a meal.

There is also no facility of waste disposal at the station, as pointed out by many truck drivers working at the platforms. “We agree once these platforms were very clean but where should the waste be dumped. There is no facility. Do you see any dustbins? Concerned station authorities should ensure a cleanliness drive. They can employ a team for cleanliness,” said Dharam Singh, one of the drivers.

Another truck driver Amandeep Singh, added, “I have seen farmers from nearby fields also talking to the officials here regarding the waste which keeps heading to their fields but a collective effort by the authorities here can address the concern.”

The cultivators lamented that ever since the station opened as IDP, it has been a nuisance, considering the authorities’ failure to manage the litter. “Plastic waste continuously flows towards our fields. It will eventually ruin our soil. This is a very serious concern,” Ranjeet Singh, a farmer.

His counterpart Balraj Singh is fed up of picking the unwanted arrivals. “I keep sorting my field freeing it from plastic waste, like many other farmers around. It multiplies our work!”

Rameshinder Singh Sandhu, a writer and freelance journalist from the village, holds IDP and station authorities at fault. “It’s certainly mismanagement of IDP and station authorities. They should have planned everything in advance. Let’s not forget that civic sense rarely works in our country,” he said. The station was once an ideal place for photoshoots. Now, it is even dirtier than several city stations. “There was a time I would walk along the station route but not no more, like many others. We also miss the heritage building of the station which was brought down to pave way for IDP.”

Other than the waste concern, stealing has also become commonplace at the station. Every now and then, large parts of the iron fence that border the platforms go missing. There is also no check on it.

Rajesh Aggarwal, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), said the railway would provide all basic amenities like dustbins besides security. He added that the station was being used as goods terminal and no passenger train was introduced there.