|
Chairman, Railway Board, Shri J.P.Batra said that Indian Railways have laid a massive thrust on plantation of ‘Jatropha Curcas’, an oil seed environment friendly plant. Addressing a gathering after planting a sapling of ‘Jatropha’ at ‘Van Mahotsav’ which was organised by National Rail Museum here today, the Chairman said that bio-diesel which comes from ‘Jatropha’ plant, is coming up as an important alternative fuel for diesel locomotives. He said that in Northern Railway, diesel locomotives presently are successfully running with Jatropha oil mixed diesel and this experiment is going to be extended in a big way in other Zonal Railways. Shri Batra said that Indian Railways have planted 7.5 million ‘Jatropha’ plants so far and will intensify this in many folds in the near future. Indian Railways have reached an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to provide 500 hectares of railway land for Jatropha plantation and out of which 180 hectares land have already been provided to IOC for this purpose.
‘Jatropha is cost effective renewable energy source and can be used as a viable substitute for diesel oil to meet the cooking and lighting needs of the rural population and as fuel for industrial purpose. Shri Batra said that ‘Jatropha’ plantation has also been taken up along side the track on railway boundary and bio-diesel could perhaps be the energy solution for the future and Indian Railways is playing a leading role in developing the technology.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri M.K.Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Railways, said that National Rail Museum deserves congratulations for organizing ‘Van Mahotsav’ to encourage people to become more environment friendly and also highlighting the contribution of Indian Railways in environment conservation. He said that this Museum is one of the two largest Rail Museums in the world and the most popular Museum of Delhi being visited by about three lakh people every year.
At ‘Van Mahotsav’, saplings of different varieties were planted and five hundred saplings were distributed free to the visitors on first come first serve basis, courtesy Forest Department, Government of NCT. A Book Review competition was held for the children from Class VI to Class XII, which was organized by the National Book Trust. A cultural programme was also organized in association with Northern Railway Bharat Scouts & Guide on the occasion.
BSC/HK/CK-135/05
|
