Shiv Sena asks Goa government to declare drug trade kingpin's name
Panaji, July 3: The Shiv Sena in Goa on Tuesday urged Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar to come clean on his statement made on Monday, in which he had said that drug trade in Goa is being run by a "godfather" from behind the scenes.
"The statement by Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar about the existence of a godfather for drug trade has shattered the entire Goa, who now want the Minister to reveal the name of the person," state Shiv Sena vice president Rakhi Prabhudessai told reporters in Panaji.
"The Minister should reveal the name... If Azgaonkar feels that naming him in public is not right, then he should at least provide the information to Chief Minister or police department," Prabhudessai said.
The Minister had on Monday said: "There should be strong action against drug trade. If that doesn't happen, the government will fail... There should be no politics on this. Drugs are a serious matter. The Goa CM is very strong on this."
Same day, the Congress party, in a letter to the Director General of Police had urged him to crack down on the drug trade in the state, which the letter said had reached unprecedented proportions.
Goa is one of the top beach tourism destinations in the country, but over the years the state has also become popular as a destination for narco-tourism. Goa attracts more than six million tourists every year, half a million of which are foreign nationals.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
