Lok Sabha Question No. 43 (STARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Reduction in Water Consumption
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.43

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## REDUCTION IN WATER CONSUMPTION

- *43.  SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:
- DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  joined  hands  with  the  United  Nations Environment Programme to draw out a roadmap for achieving 20 per cent reduction in water consumption at rail establishments and if so, the  details  thereof  along  with  the  annual  water  consumption  of  the Railways and the average bill thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Railways  does  not  have  centralised  data  on  the  water usage by its zones and production units and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Railways is taking a huge step towards the preservation of water and rolling out a new policy that is likely to be game-changer and if so, the details and the salient features thereof;
- (d) whether the Railways has decided to encourage private players to set up water treatment plants specifically for this purpose and if so, the manner  in  which  this  will  ensure  that  water  is  not  wasted  and  the annual water bill of the Railways is reduced; and
- (e) the services and areas where this policy will be implemented and the extent to which the new water policy will be promoting a better water management system that will curtail water wastage and consumption?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION  NO. 43  BY  SHRI  ANANDRAO  ADSUL  AND  DR.  PRITAM GOPINATH  MUNDE  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  06.02.2019 REGARDING REDUCTION IN WATER CONSUMPTION

(a) No,  Madam.  Indian  Railways  have  not  signed  any  Memorandum  of Understanding/agreement  with  United  Nations  Environment  Programme (UNEP). Till  now,  Indian  Railways  had  only  exchanged  a  Letter  of  Intent with UNEP for exploring the opportunity and developing, and, detailing a joint  cooperation  to  achieve  the  common  objectives  in  the  field  of environment, which included formulating Railway sector specific road map for  achieving  20%  reduction  in  water  consumption.  UNEP  is  yet  to communicate the modalities in the matter.

(b) Railways do not have any centralized data for water usage because of different sources of water supply like Municipal Water Supply, underground pumping, supply from hand-pumps, rainey wells etc.

(c) &  (d)  Railways  had  rolled  out  Indian  Railway  Water  Policy  2017  in order  to  promote  water  use  efficiency  and  thus  preservation  of  water which  include  preparation  of  Water  Management  plans,  use  of  water efficient  fittings  and  fixtures,  introduction  of  automatic  valves,  use  of Supervisory  Control  and  Data  Acquisition  (SCADA),  promoting  rain  water harvesting, installation of Water Recycling Plants by Railways as well as on Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) basis. Measurement and  accountal of  water  consumption,  differential  tariff  of  commercial  and  residential water,  Waste  Water  Management  are  other  key  areas  where  Railways intends to do concrete work to minimize the wastage of water and reduce the cost incurred on water consumption.

(e) Indian  Railways  Water  Policy  2017  has  been  issued  to  all  Zonal Railways  and  Production  Units  on  Indian  Railways  for  implementation. These  efforts  are  programmed  to  contribute  towards  India's  Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) of 20% reduction in water consumption by the year 2030.

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