In a cost-cutting measure, the Railway Board has decided to stop the supply of Rail Neer bottled water at its Rail Bhavan headquarters and asked officials to either bring water from home or drink the water of the recently-installed RO plants.
Rail Neer (mineral water) is a product of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) under the Ministry of Railways.
“Based on the above status, the competent authority has decided that the supply of bottled drinking water at Rail Bhavan would be stopped with immediate effect,” the circular said.
In fact, an internal note has also been sent to the department heads, asking them to stop the supply of outside food.
Now, the officials have been asked to cut down these expenses, the sources said.
Many staffers say that since the officers drink Rail Neer water, the drinking water tanks at the Rail Bhavan are not cleaned regularly.
If everyone starts drinking the RO water, its maintenance will be routinely carried out, they say.
“Rail Neer water is supplied to the officers, while the others use the RO, and the quality of water is often not good.
Once everyone starts drinking that water, care will be taken to ensure that it is cleaned regularly,” Shiv Gopal Mishra of the All India Railwaymen’s Union said.
The Railway Board circular, however, says that if the water of the RO plants is found to be sub-standard, then immediate supply of bottled water will be arranged.