SECR’s loco pilots become green warriors

Nagpur: The job of loco pilots, railway engine drivers in layman terms, requires them to be travelling for extended periods. While the constant travel is not everyone’s cup of tea, a group of loco pilots from South East Central Railway (SECR), Nagpur, has decided to turn this aspect of their job into something positive by sowing seeds of plants near railway tracks and other isolated areas.
‘Go Green’ is the name of the group of these like-minded loco pilots in the division. “Looking at our tough job schedule, we hardly get time to do something for the society. Six months ago, we had a WhatsApp group which shared information about going green like water conservation and environment protection issues. However, now we are practical about it by taking to plantation wherever we go,” says loco pilot Sanjay Dandhare, who conceptualized ‘Go Green’.
The loco pilots collect seeds wherever they go. “Mostly when goods trains wait for clearance, we collect plant seeds to be sowed elsewhere. This season, we collected at least 4,000 seeds of neem, karanj, gulmohar, subabul etc. These seeds are being sowed along the tracks and other isolated areas,” said Chandrashekhar Parate.
On July 1, when the Maharashtra government planted 2 crore seedlings, the group made a small effort by planting 100 large saplings on Katol and Kamptee Road.
Many saplings were planted in front of the house of staffers and they have been entrusted with the job of protecting the saplings. All the family members of group have also given wholehearted support to ‘Go Green’.
“Earlier this month, when we went to attend a wedding, we stopped on the way and sowed seeds,” said Bala Nandankar, a loco inspector.
‘Go Green’ has a dream to green 266km track from Nagpur to Durg, where the SECR Nagpur division boundary ends. “However, this will only be a reality if each trackmen is given the responsibility to take up plantations along his respective section. We plan to discuss the idea with divisional railway manager (DRM) AK Agrawal,” says Parate.
“More and more colleagues are joining our group and supporting us. We hope that our small effort turns into big tree tomorrow,” says loco pilot Gopal Pande.
Central Railway plants 1,215 saplings
The Nagpur division of Central Railway has launched a drive to plant 1,215 saplings in entire division. The saplings have been procured from social forestry department (SFD) nursery in Kelzar near Selu. The stations where these saplings will be planted include Goradongri, Amla, Multai, Pandhurna, Dhamangaon, Hinganghat, Warora, Butibori, Ajni, Katol, Ballarshah, Kalmeshwar and Wardha.