DNA Edit: Green stations - The NGT directive to Railways is timely

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Indian Railways to identify and develop 36 stations as ‘eco-smart stations’. The time allotted is not too much either — barely two weeks. But, desperate situations need desperate measures.

Operating on the principle of ‘polluter pays’, the NGT has asked the Railways to invoke compliance of the Solid Waste and Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. After the 36 stations are identified, an action plan may be prepared within a month. Closely connected to this, it has also asked the country’s biggest public transporter to carry out water and energy audits within the next three months at the identified stations, to reduce the use of energy and water.

None of this is out of the blue. The Indian Railways, quite literally the lifeline of the country, that carries over 23 million passengers every day, is also the largest consumer of natural resources and a major contributor to green environment due to reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

It also has a goal of turning 100 stations green in the not too distant future. Railways also has elaborate plans to change its energy mix and use green energy. It plans to install solar and wind plants for using green energy. To change the energy mix towards green in a phased manner, the Ministry of Railways plans to set up 1,000 mw solar and 200 mw wind plants.

It has an ambitious goal to save Rs 41,000 crore in energy savings in the next one decade. As a matter of fact, Indian Railways already has a plan to introduce energy efficiency in top 800 stations in the country. Given the background, it is a surprise that the Railways has not come forward of its own accord to showcase any of its green stations so far.