Cleaner DLW : Greener DLW

Rashmi GoelGeneral Manager

Started with a modest beginning, when Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shashtri dedicated to theNation the first diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW)on 03rd January, 1964, DLW has now taken its rightful place among the leading diesellocomotive manufacturers of the world. DLW is now the second largest manufacturer ofdiesel-electric locomotives in the world. DLW manufactured 321 locomotives in last financialyear (2017-18), including 25 electric locomotives. Since its inception, DLW has been in theforefront of new technology induction. Over the last 10 years, the production of locomotivesin DLW has more than doubled. With a capability to design across the multiple gauges usedby various international railway systems, DLW has a footprint across Asia and Africa.Locomotives manufactured by DLW are running in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar,Tanzania, Sudan, Senegal, Mali, Malaysia, Vietnam, Angola and Mozambique. Within ourown country, besides being the Motive Power provider for Indian Railways, DLW is alsosupplying locomotives to various steel plants, power plants and port trusts.

DLW being located in the heritage town of Varanasi and the leading industrial unit inthis area, has always been conscious of its larger role with regard to its community stakeholders especially towards Holy River Ganga. Always being a leader in environmentalprotection, DLW took the lead way back in late 1980s and installed two treatment plants viz.Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) for treatment of discharged human waste and IndustrialEffluent Treatment Plant (IETP) for treating contaminated & mixed Petroleum oil andLubricants (POL).

Sewage Treatment Plant Industrial Effluent Treatment PlantThese plants, besides ensuring that river Ganga remains clean, also contribute to

significant recycling of resources. At STP 3 million liters of water is being recycled every day.The treated water is released for agricultural and gardening purposes. DLW takes pride in thefact that none of sewage, whether treated or untreated, is discharged in Holy River Ganga. Thedigested bio-manure as sludge is dried and used as fertilizer for horticultural purposes. Theparameters of STP and IETP are monitored online to ensure that these remain within the laiddown standards of Central Pollution Control Board.

In order to further focus its efforts to maintain various parameters of water, air,hazardous waste, exhaust emission etc. within limits at par with laid down standards, DLW

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went in for ISO:14001 certification for Environment Management System in 2001. With thiscertification DLW has the benefit of a well defined and documented policy for preservation ofits environment both at workshop and colony.

Continuing with its endeavour to bring further efficiency in water and energymanagement, DLW has taken up water and energy audits. The water audit has not onlyreviewed the present system for water demand, its use and quality but has also identified thelosses/leakages within the water distribution and pumping systems. DLW has startedimplementing the “Recommendations for Efficient Water Management” with regards to waterreuse, recycle and conservation to reduce the need for fresh water consumption.

The undergoing energy audit, apart from verifying and analyzing energy consumption,will also recommend ways and means to improve energy efficiency with a view to reduceenergy consumption at DLW.

Solar equipments at DLW premisesStepping towards energy conservation and to tap the benefits of non-conventional

energy resources, DLW has taken a giant leap towards installation of grid connected solarpower panel. At present DLW has installed 1859 kWp of grid connected solar power capacityat various locations.

Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinhainaugurating the Solar Power Plants at DLW

During 2017-18, 1859 kWp has been installed and installation of additional 2000 kWpcapacity during current fiscal is in progress. Till 2017-18, DLW has fitted 12060 energyefficient LED fittings in Quarters & Service buildings.

DLW boasts of being the first production unit where SCADA system in generalservices is being commissioned for monitoring of energy consumption and optimizing energyusage. It may be mentioned that DLW has obtained ISO:50001 certificate for better energyconservation.

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The employees at DLW are also encouraged to adopt energy efficient lights at theirhomes. DLW was the first institution on Indian Railways which took lead in distributingenergy efficient LED lamps amongst DLW staff. More than 45,000 energy efficient 7 wattLED lamps have so far been distributed amongst more than 4200 employees. FollowingDLW’s example, other units of Indian Railways have also started adopting the same. Anotherexample of DLW’s initiative towards reduction in energy consumption is the use of MotorizedGate Valve with Pump Automation. These system improvements have not only saved preciouswater that got wasted due to overflow but also reduced pumping requirement by 2 hours.

Through various measures, DLW is able to reduce the water consumptions over theyears and presently, the average water consumption in DLW is about 12 million liters per day.Recognising water as precious resource, treated water from STP is used for irrigation oflawns, sports ground, green patches and filling of water bodies. ‘Surya Sarovar’ pond existingat DLW is not only used for religious rites but also assists in replenishing the water level ofthe area around it. Every year “Vishwakarma Pooja” is celebrated on 17 th September in DLWas a gesture towards Lord Vishwakarma. Idols of Lord Vishwakarma used to be immersed inHoly River Ganga after the worship. Showing their concern towards water pollution, theemployees of DLW took lead themselves by stopping the age old practice of worshipping the

idols and started using pictures of Lord Vishwakarma instead. DLW has also committed itselfto water harvesting by making more than 425 soak pits and 47 deep recharge wells to rechargeground water.

Hon’ble Prime Minister’s “Swachchh Bharat Mission” is also a powerful medium tokeep the environment pollution free. Under the Swachchh Bharat Mission, vigorouscleanliness drives are being launched at workshop, colony, offices and hospitals at DLW. Allthe officers, employees and their family members including the members of Civil Defence,Bharat Scouts & Guides and St. John’s Ambulance Brigade are actively taking part in thesedrives to keep the premises neat and clean.

DLW is also using green technology in its locomotives. Use of Auxiliary Power Unitsand Hotel Load features has reduced the consumption of diesel thereby correspondinglyreducing the emissions. Use of Electronic Fuel Injection system will further reduce theexhaust emissions of diesel locomotives there by reducing carbon footprint. DLW is alsoworking on Hydrogen Powered Fuel Cell locomotive which will has Zero Carbon emissions.

DLW township area boasts of having more than 150000 small & big trees. Thistranslates into DLW having around 40% green area. Thousands of trees are planted yearly allover the campus. In the year 2017-18, more than 10000 trees were planted at DLW. Thisconcerted effort of “Team DLW” for “Clean DLW, Green DLW”, has resulted in anenvironment which is not only green & clean all around but also the pollution levels of water,air, exhaust-emissions and hazardous wastes are well within the limits. The green campus of

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Surya Sarovar Recharge Well & soak pits

DLW speaks volumes about the concern and commitment of the habitants of this colony forthe environment conservation at DLW. One can perceptibly feel a temperature drop of 3-4degree Celsius, on entering DLW campus, as compared to outside area. It is the understandingand appreciation of its environment which continuously encourages DLW towards a greenerand cleaner and sustainable future.

Than Hon’ble MR Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu giving away “GreenCo Silver” shield to Shri Suneet Sharma, PCME, DLW

DLW has obtained another feather to its cap when the CII-Godrej Green BusinessCentre (CII-Godrej GBC) accorded it the status of Green Co Silver for protecting theenvironment. As is evident from above, DLW is committed to a clean, green and sustainableenvironment.

Green and Clean DLW premises

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