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Water in Northern Railway zone unsafe: Report; CE transferred
The chief engineer of Northern Railways has been transferred following a survey which found water available at many stations under the zone to be contaminated.
New Delhi: The chief engineer of Northern Railways has been transferred following a survey which found water available at many stations under the zone to be contaminated.
Alok Verma, who incidentally conducted the survey, said he got the transfer order to Guwahati on Thursday.
When contacted Verma said, "I am just doing my duty."
Asked about the transfer order he said "Yes I got the transfer order on Thursday." However, a Northern Railway spokesperson said the chief engineer was transferred in December and he requested for two months stay of his transfer order.
"The two-month stay period will be over tomorrow and he is trying to create a controversy before that to get further stay," the spokesperson said and accused Verma "mala fide intention".
The spokesperson said the report submitted by Verma to Northern Railways General Manager V K Gupta 10 days ago is being examined for its authenticity.
"We do not compromise on quality of the water and there are three stages where water supply is tested. Engineering department, medical department and outside agencies. If any sample is found unsafe for human consumption then it is engineering department which is responsible for supply and treatment of water."
According to Verma`s report, accessed by PTI, while 100 per cent of samples collected at Lucknow station were found to be unsafe, 59 per cent of the samples in the Moradabad division and 94 per cent samples in the Ambala division were found to be contaminated.
A total of 1000 samples were collected during July-December period from various stations across the Northern Railway zone.
The report said, "Coliform bacteria, which is harmful and caused various water-borne diseases, was also found in several samples."
As far as water standard in Delhi and Ferozabad railway divisions are concerned it is found unsafe as chlorination of the water is not done properly, it said.
Even chlorination plants at New Delhi, Old Delhi, Nizamuddin and Jammu stations were found to be not working properly, the report said.
About 3 crore litres of water is supplied in the zone daily.
When contacted Verma said, "I am just doing my duty."
Asked about the transfer order he said "Yes I got the transfer order on Thursday." However, a Northern Railway spokesperson said the chief engineer was transferred in December and he requested for two months stay of his transfer order.
"The two-month stay period will be over tomorrow and he is trying to create a controversy before that to get further stay," the spokesperson said and accused Verma "mala fide intention".
The spokesperson said the report submitted by Verma to Northern Railways General Manager V K Gupta 10 days ago is being examined for its authenticity.
"We do not compromise on quality of the water and there are three stages where water supply is tested. Engineering department, medical department and outside agencies. If any sample is found unsafe for human consumption then it is engineering department which is responsible for supply and treatment of water."
According to Verma`s report, accessed by PTI, while 100 per cent of samples collected at Lucknow station were found to be unsafe, 59 per cent of the samples in the Moradabad division and 94 per cent samples in the Ambala division were found to be contaminated.
A total of 1000 samples were collected during July-December period from various stations across the Northern Railway zone.
The report said, "Coliform bacteria, which is harmful and caused various water-borne diseases, was also found in several samples."
As far as water standard in Delhi and Ferozabad railway divisions are concerned it is found unsafe as chlorination of the water is not done properly, it said.
Even chlorination plants at New Delhi, Old Delhi, Nizamuddin and Jammu stations were found to be not working properly, the report said.
About 3 crore litres of water is supplied in the zone daily.