"We served the notices after we found that there was large scale pollution at railway stations due to improper disposal of solid waste. We have given them 15 days to take corrective steps. If they fail, we will initiate criminal proceedings against them," MPCB member secretary Dilip Boralkar said.

MPCB invoked the provisions of the water and air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, hazardous wastes amendment rules and municipal solid waste rules to take on the CR and WR.

Boralkar said both CR and WR's activities were spread over the metropolis through the mainline and suburban railway stations.

The stations were designated water pollution prevention areas and air pollution prevention areas under the water and air (prevention and control of pollution) Act.

Therefore, the railway administrations were obliged to collect and dispose of municipal solid wastes generated at the stations. Secondly, they also had to make provisions for pollution control and operate them efficiently.

During a survey conducted by the MPCB, it was found that the authorities were not collecting and disposing of solid waste generated at the stations properly.

Secondly, waste including plastic bags, tetra packs, wrappers and empty water bottles were being rampantly burnt at stations, leading to serious deterioration in air quality.

Thirdly, it was found that the sewage and trade effluents generated from food stalls, canteens and railway workshops were not properly treated in compliance with environmental standards and were discharged in surrounding areas.

Fourthly, most of the railway stations were full of filth from the lavatories of outstation trains and the tracks and platforms were not cleaned on a regular basis, resulting in extremely foul odour.

"On several occasions, these issues were brought to the notice of the railway administration, but as there was no response, now we have decided to take legal action against them. We have given them 15 days time to reply to the notice," Boralkar said.