(a) whether the Railways has taken any decision to cultivate Jatropha on its extra and unused land;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the total area of land on which Jatropha is being cultivated presently;
(c) the additional area of land selected and given for the said purpose; and
(d) the total income, the railways is likely to earn through this initiative zone-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) to (d): Indian Railways decided in the year 2002-03 to undertake plantation of Jatropha on its vacant land for production of bio-diesel. Large numbers of Jatropha saplings had been planted on Indian Railways but the survival rate of these plants was very low, yield was far below expectations and these were prone to termite attacks. Railway has also not been benefitted in getting bio-diesel from these Jatropha plants as it was not found commercially viable. As such, plantation of Jatropha on vacant Railway land is not preferred. The total area under Jatropha plantation on Indian Railways is approximately 550 hectares. Railways did not earn any revenue as it was for Railways’ own use.
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