The Railways has undertaken a series of measures for water conservation and recycling through installation of rainwater harvesting structures and setting up water recycling plants, through which the national transporter eventually hopes to save Rs300 crore a year through these measures.
It has set a target to recycle 20 crore litres per day. The installed capacity of recycling One crore liters per day is being enhanced to 3.5 crore litres per day by the end of 2017 through a concerted effort. Once the recycling potential of 20 crore litres per day is achieved, the Railways shall save Rs300 crore per year only on its water bill, apart from saving precious water resources.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that the Railways is considered the most energy efficient mode of transport and therefore the most environmentally sustainable among all including road, air and water.
“Railways is the best means of transport in environmental view as we are dealing with all aspects of environment. The organisation will be saving Rs300 crore a year through a concerted effort to conserve water and restore water bodies on rail land across the country,” Prabhu said while addressing an event on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Water recycling plants provided already at 30 locations saving 12 million litres of water per day. Water audit is underway at the major water consumption centres and rainwater harvesting systems already provided at more than 2,200 locations and are being extended further.
Railways have also established a directorate dedicated to the affairs of environment, cleanliness and waste management. Besides, it has undertaken energy conservation and energy efficiency measures with a target to achieve 1,000 MW of solar power and 170 MW of wind power installed capacities.
Highlighting the focus on electrification, Prabhu said “All our broad gauge lines will be electrified which will help in reducing emissions”.
“We have also set a target of planting 5 crore trees in next three years to increase the forest cover on the rail land”. This year, 1.2 crore trees have been planted against a target of 1.15 crore,” Prabhu added.