2 weeks Ago By Rajiv Mani
Prayagraj: To address the growing water crisis, Indian Railways has embarked on an ambitious project to construct ' Amrit Sarovar ', artificial ponds, along its vacant land adjacent to railway tracks. "The collaborative effort between the Railways and Ministry of Rural Development is expected to make a significant impact on the country's water availability, climate resilience and ecological balance while also generating resources for railway infrastructure development. With the support of the railways, Mission Amrit Sarovar is poised to achieve its ambitious goals and create a sustainable water management system for the country," said senior PRO, NCR, Amit Malviya.
He said a survey process has started in the North Central Railway (NCR) zone to identify suitable locations for the construction of these ponds. The project is expected to be completed by August 15. The Mission Amrit Sarovar, launched by Centre in April 2022, aimed to construct or rejuvenate 50,000 Amrit Sarovars (ponds) across the country.
As of Oct 2024, over 68,000 sarovars were completed, significantly enhancing surface and groundwater availability. In a letter jointly signed by the chairman Railway Board, Satish Kumar, and secretary, department of rural development, Shailesh Kumar Singh, instructions were given to the general manager of different railway zones to focus on identifying suitable sites for constructing new water bodies or rejuvenating existing ones near railway lines. District authorities will be requested to identify potential sites, which will then be utilised for railway embankment construction if the quality of earth is suitable.
The initiative will also involve the rejuvenation of existing water bodies, including cleaning, desilting and removal of encroachments. Detailed guidelines issued by the National Water Mission will be followed for the rejuvenation process. The letter also mentions that the construction of Amrit Sarovars provides a significant amount of silt and soil, which can be utilised for infrastructure development works, especially for railways.
The Railway Board will work closely with district administrations to facilitate the transportation of soil from Amrit Sarovars to railway embankment sites. Every Amrit Sarovar worksite will feature a common signage board with a standard size and logo, as shared by the Ministry of Rural Development. The borrow areas declared for railway projects may also be converted into Amrit Sarovar.
Access permission of sites (works taken up as Amrit Sarovars) is to be shared with geo-coordinates with the Railway Board so that the maximum number of sites may be approached. Amrit Sarovar in the forest areas may be constructed only after due clearance from the concerned forest department. If construction by the forest department is not feasible, then a No Objection Certificate (NOC) should be provided to the implementing agency, say the instructions.
.
