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.
In a circular issued on 16 May, the board has said that since, in accordance with the demands of the officials as well as the staff associations, three RO plants have been installed in the Rail Bhavan premises in January, Rail Neer water will not be supplied there.
It has also said that the required quality tests of the RO water have been conducted and it was found to be at par with the Rail Neer water. 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. However, Rail Neer water would be served during meetings and conferences at the Rail Bhavan, it added.
According to officials, this was one of the many measures undertaken by the ministry to cut costs. In fact, an internal note has also been sent to the department heads, asking them to stop the supply of outside food.
Every official, according to his or her rank, has a fixed amount that they can spend on refreshments and sources say that the board is of the view that this privilege is being misused. Now, the officials have been asked to cut down these expenses.
According to unofficial estimates, around 1,000 Rail Neer bottles are supplied to the Rail Bhavan every day. 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.