GUWAHATI, June 7 � With a view to reducing pollution and dependence on precious fossil fuel, Diesel Locomotive Shed, New Guwahati, the easternmost locomotive maintenance shed of the Indian Railways, is undertaking a number of projects to adopt eco-friendly and green technologies.
Indian Railways sources said that among the things planned for the near future are installation of a bio-methanation plant and solar water heaters.
Officials said various energy efficiency devices have already been operationalised in the Diesel Locomotive Shed, New Guwahati. The shed has achieved 100 per cent recycling of water through the use of effluent treatment plant (ETP).
�At present, 2.8 kilo litres of raw water are treated per hour at the shed. Besides, the shed has undertaken massive plantation drives. The plan is now to diversify into other eco-friendly technologies, renewable and alternative fuels, not only for energy conservation and reducing pollution, but also for cost cutting,� said an official.
He said use of fuel efficiency devices like shafts and turbo super chargers has also led to conservation of resources in maintenance of locomotives.
�We are now proposing to install a solar water heater with a capacity of 2,750 litres. This will result in a saving of Rs 9 lakh annually. This will replace the existing electrical geysers,� said the official.
In addition, there is a proposal to set up a bio methanation plant with a capacity to gasify 45 kg of kitchen waste at a time.
�Also on the anvil is installation of electro static precipitators in chimneys. We are also focusing on setting up a new lab for harvesting geo-thermal energy for heating and cooling purposes,� said the official.
Railway sources added that with a rooftop area of 4,900 square metres, the shed has potential to generate solar energy, besides harvesting over 13,000 cubic metres of rainwater every year.
The New Guwahati shed, the only full-fledged diesel locomotive shed in the seven north-eastern states, was commissioned in the early 1960s and was designed for 80 locomotives, but now handles 125 engines.
It is also the easternmost diesel shed in the country, used for maintenance of all types of locomotives, including passenger, goods and shunting (used for attaching and detaching wagons).
The New Guwahati shed handles Alco locomotives having 2,600-3,000 horsepower. Under a vision document, the Indian Railways aims to secure at least 10 per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2017.
