SULTANGANJ

                                                                    

ER ORGANISED TREE PLANTATION o­n THE OCCASION OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

·ER’S EFFORTS FOR MANAGING ENVIRONMENT WITH SUSTAINABILITY

Kolkata, June 5, 2020:

            Eastern Railway organised plantation of saplings at various places o­n the occasion of World Environment Day.  Shri S. S. Ghelot, Additional General Manager, Eastern Railway has taken initiative in plantation of tree as a token of Eastern Railway’s care for conservation of environment.

            Eastern Railway is marching ahead towards environmental sustainability by managing for a balanced environment. A number of steps have been taken by ER in 2019-20 in this direction. Aforstation, renovation and provision of water bodies, rain water harvesting, recycling of released sleepers for construction of roads, level crossing , station platforms etc, installation of plastic bottles crushing machines at station  platforms , provision of LED luminaries, provision of solar power plants and  Bio-toilets in coaches are some of the ER’s efforts towards Green Environment with reduction in carbon foot print .

Some of the Green Initiatives of Eastern Railway during 2019-20 are as follows:

i)          Revival of trees affected by severe cyclone ‘Amphan’:- Following the land fall of recent severe cyclone of ‘Amphan’, Eastern Railway has undertaken “Save Fallen Trees” project to save trees affected by cyclone hit at Railway  areas. A number of trees affected in cyclone ‘Amphan’ have been revived.

ii)         Eastern Railway has planted a total of 1318739 numbers of saplings in 2019-20.

iii)        Eleven (11) numbers of mini forests have been created in Asansol Division.

iv)        Three nurseries have been created in Howrah Division.

v)         Mini gardens are developed at Pandabeshwar, Waria Gang Hut and ZRTC, Bhuli.

vi)        Vertical Gardens: Vertical garden was created  in Howrah station premises last year to augment green touch. This year, a new garden ‘ Bapu Udayan’ has been created at Howrah station area. Vertical gardens with fountain were completed at Jasidih and Asansol station circulating areas.

vii)       Water Treatment Plant at Howrah :- The entire waste water generated at Howrah station  is treated completely before releasing  it to the river.

viii)      Rain water harvesting: Rain water harvesting system has been developed at Sealdah. Water harvesting mechanism has also been installed at Asansol Railway hospital, Waria Gang Hut, Panagarh, Andal Health Unit, Giridih station building, Liluah Workshop, Kanchrapara Workshop etc.

ix)        Installation of bottle crushing machines: Bottle crushing machines have been installed at many stations and workshops and progressively being installed at all major stations as an effective  measures to eradicate plastic pollution at Railway premises. Passengers can utilise bottle crushing machines installed at Howrah, Bandel, Barddhaman, Rampurhat, Sealdah, Kolkata, Naihati, Asansol, Deoghar, Madhupur, Jasidih, Raniganj, Andal, Malda Town, Bhagalpur, New Farakka, Jamalpur, Sultanganj etc.  as a step forward towards plastic pollution free environment.

x) Using released sleepers for construction of road etc : Released PSC sleepers are being utilized for construction of connecting road from LC Gate No 102 to LC Gate No. 103 at Panagarh . Apprach road of a LC Gate at Siuri, Platform surfaces at Sirsa, Nunthar, Dhanpathdih  stations, pathway to Asansol nursery   etc to recycle the released sleepers towards conservation of environment.  

xi)        Provision of LED luminaries:-  All  of 572 electrified  stations of Eastern Railway have been completely fitted with  LED luminaries.

xi)        Provision of Solar Power Plant:  3 million Watt solar power plant has been commissioned o­n the rooftop of Howrah station. This is the biggest solar plant o­n rooftop of any station bringing expected saving of Rs.1.9 crore annualy. Renewable energy sources also commissioned at Sealdah, Hirapur Yard, Liluah Workshop and other places over Eastern Railway.

xii)       Provision of Bio-toilets : All coaches of Eastern Railway are provided with bio-toilets.

            With these continuous endeavour, Eastern Railway achieved  many Green Certification in 2019-20. Howrah station has been accredited with ISO Certification 14001:2015 in June 2019, Sealdah station has received ISO Certificate 14001:2015 o­n August 2019. Malda, New Farraka, Bhagalpur, Sultanganj, Jamalpur, Asansol, Raniganj, Andal, Durgapur, Madhupur, Jasidih, Baidyanath Dham, Basukinath & Deoghar stations  have been accredited with ISO 14001:2015. Besides,  Kancharapara Workshop has been accredited with “Silver Rated Green Co Certification” in September, 2019 .

It is pertinent to mention that, Liluah Workshop of ER is already having ‘Gold rated Co certification’ and Jamalpur Workshop also having ‘Green Co certification’.