Centre’s water train arrives in Bundelkhand, empty
Lucknow: The ‘water train’ that triggered a war of words between the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government has arrived in Jhansi without the promised 70,000 litres of water.
It was sent from Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam on Wednesday for drought-hit Bundelkhand on the Railway Board’s instructions days after a similar arrangement was made for Maharashtra’s parched Latur.
North Central Railway (NCR) chief public relations officer Bijay Kumar confirmed there was no water in the train tanks. He added NCR offices had been instructed to assemble the rake of water tankers to be sent to Jhansi. Kumar could not explain how empty the rake would have addressed water scarcity in Bundelkhand.
Kumar said Mahoba and Jhansi district magistrates gave written statements to railways saying they do not need the water train. “We got instructions from the Railway Board for making a rake of water tankers. The tankers were assembled in Ratlam and sent to Jhansi.” Jhansi railway division commercial officer Girish Kanchar said their wagons would be filled with water from a nearby reservoir when they get the go-ahead. “So far, there has been no demand from anywhere for water.” The Uttar Pradesh government declined to receive the water train even before word of the tankers being empty got out.
Principal secretary (revenue) Suresh Chandra said the NCR’s deputy regional manager held a meeting with Mahoba and Jhansi district magistrates on Tuesday and offered the water train. “We let them know that Uttar Pradesh’s Bundelkhand was not facing crisis akin to Marathwada and asked them to supply water when asked.” The government even posted pictures on its Twitter account showing water conserva tion efforts in Bundelkhand. Later in the day Jhansi district magistrate A K Shukla confirmed , the train was empty after he was directed to verify it.
Hours later, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav wrote to Union water resources minister Uma Bharti seeking 10,000 water tankers. Bharti had earlier called Yadav “egoistical” for refusing the Centre’s help. Yadav wrote traditional sources in the region still contain enough water. He added the state government faces logistical challenge of supplying water to far flung areas, where only tankers can supply water.
“A water train is needed when the entire area is hit by drought and water must be brought in from far flung areas. That is not the case with Bundelkhand, yet. Since the traditional water bodies still contain water, the need of the hour is water tankers.” Yadav wrote the state government would demand for a water train when its needs it.
BJP state chief Keshav Prasad Maurya cautioned the Uttar Pradesh government against politicking over the issue. He said the government should make efforts to conserve water instead of issuing statements.
He highlighted official apathy in the parched region and said Chitrakoot commissioner had announced the dry Keerat Lake would be filled with water from tankers for animals.
Maurya challenged the government’s claims of having distributed compensation among droughthit figures. “Against Rs 867 crore sanctioned, only Rs 52 crore had been distributed, which is only five percent of the total amount.”
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