CAG blames railways for ground water contamination

NEW DELHI: Picking holes in the environment management by Indian railways, Comptroller and Auditor General of India has found there were no specific instructions by the Railway Board for installation of Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) at workshops, sheds and production units of railways.

Sludge from ETPs was disposed off in open area leading to contamination of ground water, CAG in its latest report said.

CAG has suggested workshops, production units and sheds need to take effective steps for proper disposal of ETP sludge as per guidelines issued by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to prevent contamination of ground water.

"No ETP was provided in 60 per cent of the units test checked. In eight workshops and sheds, where ETP was provided, sources of effluents were not connected to the ETP," it said.

Railways is the single largest user of both energy and water in the country. Conservation of energy and water is essential to avoid wastage.

A review was taken up to assess the performance of 138 workshops, sheds and six production units in addressing the environmental impact of its operations or maintenance activities and measures adopted for conservation of energy and water.

CAG also found that monitoring of air quality along with the provision of pollution control equipment was inadequate.

"Air pollution control equipments such as wet scrubber, fume extractors, dust collectors were not provided in 69 per cent workshops and sheds test checked," it said.

Pollution control equipments in two production units Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in Chittaranjan and Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi were not maintained in working condition.

Monitoring of implementation of the recommended safety measures was done only in 12 per cent of the workshops and sheds test checked.