Lok Sabha Question No. 714 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 714 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## MISSION NET ZERO CARBON EMISSION

## 714. SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has signed an MoU with United States for International Development/India (USAID/India) for supporting Indian
- Railways to achieve Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  MoU  provides  a  platform  for  Indian  Railways  to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector;
- (d) if  so,  whether  the  MoU  facilitates  utility  modernization,  advance energy  solutions  and  systems,  regional  energy  and  market  integration and  private  sector  participation  and  engagement,  training  and  other interactions for knowledge sharing;
- if  so,  whether  it  is  likely  to  help  Indian  Railways  to  reduce
- (e) dependence on imported fuel such as diesel, coal etc.;
- if  so,  whether  it  is  likely  to  help  in  the  development  of  local
- (f) ecosystem; and
- (g)
- if so, the details thereof along with the present status thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (g):    A  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  has  been  signed between Indian Railways (IR), Government of India and United States Contd.2/..

Agency for International Development/India (USAID/India) on 14th June, 2023.  The  purpose  of  this  MoU  is  to  further  the  partnership  between USAID/India  and  Indian  Railways  as  they  pursue  their  common  goals related to contributing to India's ambitious clean energy targets (energy efficiency,  renewable  energy  and  energy  security)  including  marketbased approaches to scaling advanced energy technologies and building capacity of the workforce. The MoU, inter-alia, includes different areas of cooperation such as long term clean energy planning and procurement; development of energy efficiency policy; technical support for  addressing  regulatory  and  implementation  barriers;  and  capacity building programs.

Technical assistance for the services under this MoU is intended to be provided  by  USAID  under  the  South  Asia  Regional  Energy  Partnership (SAREP) initiative.

The  scope  of  the  MoU,  inter-alia,  includes  identifying,  scaling    and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures which will result in reduced dependence of IR on imported fuel such  as  diesel,  coal  etc.  Procurement  of  power  through  renewable energy  and  implementation  of  energy  efficiency  measures  has  the potential to  generate green jobs in the economy.  This  will also strengthen local ecosystem giving boost to local product development which will  help  in  employment  generation.  This  MoU  is  effective  for  a period  of  five  years  or  until  the  effective  end  of  South  Asia  Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) program of USAID/India.

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