Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Sep 4: Indian Railway will make all its stations and trains plastic free in a phased manner which will help artisans and farmers across the country, minister of state for Railways Suresh Angadi said.

He said that South Western Railway has already began talks with a section of potters from Karnataka who will supply clay-made pots for serving tea on the trains, replacing the traditional use of plastic on it.

The union minister spoke to reporters in Vasco in presence of union minister of state for Defence Shripad Naik and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Vinay Tendulkar after flagging off a bi-weekly train between Vasco (Goa) and Belgaum (Karnataka).

Angadi said that Indian Railway’s initiative to shift toward plastic free operations will help farmers and artisans who will be in demand for their products.

“Right now, we can say, the Indian Railway is 25 per cent plastic free. We want to make it hundred percent for which attempts have begun from now onwards,” he said.

“The Prime Minister has appealed to the people on Independence Day to make India plastic free and we all have to join hands for the cause,” Angadi said.

The minister, however, ruled out complete ban on carrying or use of plastic on trains or at railway stations. “Having law w ill not help. The people will have to be aware about it and they should decide to make Railway plastic free,” he said.

Angadi said that the process to make Indian Railways plastic free will start in phases.