Question : Water Management System

(a) whether the Railways has 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 has 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; and

(d) the services and areas where this policy is likely to be implemented and the extent to which the new water policy is likely to promote better water management system that will curtail water wastage and consumption?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a): Railway had rolled out Indian Railway Water Policy 2017 in order to promote water use efficiency and thus preservation of water to contribute

towards India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) of 20% reduction in water consumption by the year 2030.

(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, rainy wells etc.

(c): Railway had rolled out Indian Railway Water Policy 2017 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.

(d): 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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