Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visits Udupi Sri Krishna mutt
Mangaluru, Mar 26: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday morning visited the Sri Krishna mutt in Udupi and offered prayers to the presiding deity of the temple.
She was accompanied by BJP candidate for Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat Shobha Karandlaje, Udupi MLA K Raghupati Bhat and other party leaders.
Palimaru mutt chief Paryaya Swami Vidyadeesha Teertha, handed over the 'prasadam' to her.
The minister requested the Swami to pray on her behalf to Lord Krishna for the welfare of the country and return of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister.
Sitharaman said she had a close bond with the Sri Krishna mutt and Sri Mookambika temple at Kollur for the last several years.
The minister is scheduled to take part in a meeting of fishermen at Manipal and BJP workers' convention at the party office later in the day.
She will also accompany Shobha Karandlaje during the filing of her nomination papers.
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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.
