AAP leader questions Amarinder's controversial dope test order
Chandigarh, July 7: Punjab's Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira has questioned Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's recent order that all government employees and police personnel of the state should undergo a dope test annually to curb the rampant drugs menace in the state.
In a letter to Amarinder on Saturday, Khaira questioned the logic behind the dope test order and said that crores of rupees would be wasted in the entire exercise which would divert the attention from the core problem of drug abuse in Punjab.
"What is the point of having all the approximately 3 lakh government employees to undertake the dope test? Particularly woman employees, clerks etc., who have no connection with the drug trafficking menace. I am told that if all state employees were to take a dope test it will cost the public exchequer Rs 17-18 crore annually," Khaira, who sent a copy of his own dope test to the Chief Minister, pointed out in his letter.
Amarinder had, on Wednesday, ordered mandatory annual dope test for all Punjab government employees, including police personnel.
"The said controversial dope test order can also create an embarrassing position for aged politicians and officers who may have been taking opioid-based drugs for their medical treatment, that can lead to the test being positive," Khaira said, adding that political leaders were making a beeline to get the dope test done to avoid controversy.
"The focus of debate has shifted from the real issue of drug mafia having deep connections with the police officers of the state, to a non-issue of dope test," Khaira added.
Urging the Chief Minister "to reconsider the en mass dope test of all government employees", Khaira said that this was virtually eclipsing the main problem of drug abuse.
He said that instead of subjecting the government staff to dope testing, it should be conducted upon officers of the police force and not the entire police constabulary or the lower ranks.
"The dope tests should be conducted randomly with a surprise element, as it is highly impossible to get a positive result by voluntary methods," Khaira said.
He said the availability of drugs was rampant across Punjab despite claims made by the Congress government that the backbone of the drugs trade had been broken.
"I reiterate that you should reconsider the blanket dope test order, that has added confusion to the issue and misdirected the actual debate and solutions to the drug menace," Khaira said.
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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.
