Western railway plans a series of virtual events to celebrate World Environment Day

Every year, World Environment Day is celebrated on 5th June across the globe in order to increase awareness among people about environmental safety as well as to educate the need for environmental conservation measures. In view of the current scenario of COVID, Western Railway has a slew of online activities lined up to mark this occasion, with this year’s theme being ‘Ecosystem Restoration’.

It will include webinars, virtual drawing, painting competitions, as well as felicitation of the Divisions/Units of Western Railway in recognition of the measures taken for ecosystem restoration. General Manager & other officers will observe the day with tree plantation drives. According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, various initiatives have been undertaken by Western Railway for mitigating environmental impacts and reducing Green House Gas emissions.

Subhahjit Mukherjee, Founder of Mission Green Mumbai, will address the webinar on Ecosystem Restoration/Rainwater Conservation. It will be attended by PHODs, DRMs, CWMs, other senior officers, and staff. GM Alok Kansal will also inaugurate the recent environment-friendly initiatives implemented in Western Railways such as Rain Water Harvesting, Restoration & Conservation of Waterbody/ Garden, and the Automatic Coach Washing Machines. The Divisions will be showcasing presentations on the various steps and efforts taken towards the conservation of the ecosystem. To encourage as well as to promote the spirit for Green Initiatives amongst railway employees, they have also planned to felicitate the Best Performing Units.

Similarly, to inculcate the enthusiasm of the occasion amongst the family members of the employees, a virtual drawing & painting competition will also be conducted with the themes: Save the Forests; Reverse Climate Change; Conserving our Bio-diversity; Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. The entries will be collected virtually, and the winners will be felicitated online by Tanuja Kansal, President, Western Railway Women Welfare Organization.

Thakur further informed that to create awareness amongst the passengers, jingles would be played across the public address system. Short video clips, Awareness e-posters, and e–banners would be displayed on the digital screens at stations & railway premises. W. Rly’s social media platforms will also come out with attractive web cards to spread the message of Environment Conservation.

Speaking about the various Green initiatives adopted over Western Railway, Thakur stated that Western Railway was making every effort to reduce the carbon footprints and has implemented various initiatives in the last financial year. In this direction, Western Railway has undertaken massive tree plantations drives, beautification of Bhavnagar Terminus station with landscaping and gardening work, verticals gardens at various locations. They have also commissioned Waste Water Treatment, Recycling plants, Solid Waste Disposal and Management System, and Automatic Coach Washing Plants. W. Rly also requested the passengers to join hands in this noble cause to conserve nature for the upcoming generations.