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Suresh Prabhu wants the Railways to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and lower emissions in all its operations. The Railway Minister, who is pursuing a PhD in Climate Change and advises the Prime Minister on related issues, has directed his ministry to create a “special cell” to deal with environmental matters. The special cell would look into matters related to green clearance, environment friendly technologies, environmental impacts of rail operations and other such issues, Rail Bhawan sources said. This is the first time that all matters regarding environment would be brought under one umbrella for better monitoring and prompt decision-making. “Emissions should go down, plantation of trees on railway land should be encouraged and quality of water being discharged should be as per norms,” Prabhu is learnt to have told Railway officials. The minister also wants renewable energy sources to become a “focus area” of the national transporter.