Lok Sabha Question No. 3187 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Inadequate Supply of Drinking Water
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3187

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER

3187. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  complaints  for  inadequate supply of drinking water at the Railway Stations across the country during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  zone-wise  along  with  the  action  taken thereon;
- (c)  the  number  of  Water  Vending  Machines  (WVMs)  installed  at  Railway Stations to provide potable water at affordable cost across the country so far along with the estimated cost of installation of such WVMs, zone-wise;
- (d)  whether  the    Government    has    also    received    complaints    of contaminated  potable  water  supplied  at  Railway  Stations  across  the country during the said period;
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  zone-wise  and  the  reasons  therefor  along with the action taken thereon; and
- (f)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  adequate safe  drinking  water  at  affordable  rates  to  passengers  at  the  Railway Stations in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  of UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3187 BY SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE AND SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  14.03.2018  REGARDING INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER

(a), (b), (d) and (e): Yes, Madam. Complaints regarding drinking water are received  which  include  inadequate  supply  and  contamination.  Such complaints  have  been  received  at  various  level,  consolidated  list  of which is not maintained separately. These are examined and action as feasible and viable is taken.

(c):  Zone-wise  details  of  number  of  Water  Vending  Machines  (WVMs) installed at Railway Stations to provide potable water at affordable cost along with the estimated cost of installation is as under:-

| S. No.      | Zonal Railway No. of WVMs installed   | Estimated cost (in ` )                                                                              |
|-------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1           | Central 173                           | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 2           | East Central 174                      | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 3           | East Coast 63                         | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 4           | Eastern 31                            | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 5           | North Central 80                      | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 6           | North Eastern 59                      | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 7           | 55                                    | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 8           |                                       | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 9           | 76                                    | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 10          | South Central 164                     | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 11          | 25                                    | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 12          | South Eastern 35                      | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 13          | Southern 151                          | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 14          | South Western 72                      | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 15          | West Central 93                       | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| 16          | Western 206                           | The estimated cost per machine is between ` 4 lakh to ` 6 lakh. Frontier Northern 232 North Western |
| Grand Total | Grand Total                           |                                                                                                     |

(f):  With  an  objective  to  make  available  potable  drinking  water  of prescribed  standard  to  passengers  at  affordable  price,  Water  Vending Machines  (WVMs)  Policy  was  notified  on  16.06.2015.    Clean,  Reverse Osmosis  (RO)  water  is  dispensed  through  these  WVMs  to  travelling passengers  at  affordable  rates.  Indian  Railways  Catering  and  Tourism Corporation  Limited  (IRCTC)  has  been  mandated  to  set  up  WVMs  on Railway  stations.    Selling  price  of  the  dispensed  water  through  these machines  is  much  cheaper  than  bottled  mineral  water.  The  rates  of dispensed water are as under:-

| Quantity   |   Refill (Amount in ` ) |   With Container (Amount in ` ) |
|------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 300 ml     |                       1 |                               2 |
| 500 ml     |                       3 |                               5 |
| 1 litre    |                       5 |                               8 |
| 2 litre    |                       8 |                              12 |
| 5 litre    |                      20 |                              25 |

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