Udupi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets families of missing fishermen
Udupi: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday visited the houses of fishermen of Suvarna Tribhuja boat which went missing on December 15 last year after starting it sail for fishing from Malpe on December 13. Sitharaman visited the homes of Chandrashekar Kotian and Tandel Damodar Salian the owners of the boat.
The minister informed the family members that the government is trying everything in order to find clues about the boat that went missing with seven fishermen onboard. She further informed that Indian Navy has also been deployed in the operation.
The minister first visited the house of owner of the boat Chandrashekhar and consoled his wife Shyamala and his mother. Shyamala and other family members of Chandrashekar started crying during the minister’s visit after which the minister comforted them and assured them of finding the missing boat soon.
Sitharaman then went to Damodar Salian’s house and met his parents. The minister discussed the issue with them, while the parents of Damodar also spoke their heart out with tears rolling down their eyes.
Shobha Karandlaje, MLAs K. Raghupathi Bhat, Lalaji Mendon, BJP leaders, Malpe Fishermen's Association president Satish Kunder and others were present along with Sitharaman during the visit.
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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.
