‘Can’t keep buying bottles’: CAG report on bacteria in water coolers worries railway passengers

Pune: Ramanuj Mahto, a daily wager from Bihar, was at Pune railway station on Monday, for the Pune-Danapur Express, when he felt compelled to buy two bottles of water for his wife and four children.“A bottle costs Rs 14. But I have my children with me and I can’t take a risk. Railway stations are not known for clean drinking water,” Mahto said.His fears were backed by a CAG report this week, which said serious sanitation lapses had been found at 458 out of 512 railway stations nationwide, including eight stations where E coli bacteria was found in water coolers. Four of these stations are under Central Railway (CR) — Lonavla, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhiwandi Road and Kalyan.On Monday, Railway officials said immediate corrective action will be taken to improve hygiene, including replacement of water tanks and regular testing. Public relations officer of CR, Swapnil Nila said a new “Tank-to-Tap” filtration system would be installed at 20,000 locations, including better water coolers.“Regular water testing will be carried out at source and outlet points, along with cleaning and maintenance of storage tanks. Tanks will also be replaced at several locations,” Nila said.Hygiene at Pune station or other stations under Pune rail division was not flagged in the CAG report, but officials said the clean-up measures would be implemented at these locations as well. Pune station has nine water coolers for a daily footfall of over 1.5 lakh passengers daily. Several of those passengers TOI spoke to on Monday said they remain wary of the water quality in the coolers.“I’ve used Pune station several times, but never once drank from the coolers there. I just don’t have the courage to,” said Prashant Ram, a businessman from Rajasthan. “I think it’s the Railways’ job to assure passengers of quality,” he said.Some passengers said expensive packaged water was their only option. “I’m on a daily wage. I have to save money for home,” said Srijatan Manjhi who too was waiting for the Danapur Express to Bihar on Monday. “Authorities can do a lot to improve the quality of food and water at stations. Paani aur khaana station mein accha hona chahiye kyuki hum log ticket ka paisa dete hain,” he said.Anand Saptarshi, a member of the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee, said the problem of inadequate amenities at railway station is regularly raised with officials. “Passengers, undoubtedly, should receive proper services at all railway stations of the country. We are constantly in talks with authorities and will reiterate these concerns,” he said.