SC summons officials of Delhi civic bodies on sealing issue
New Delhi, July 11: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought presence of Deputy Commissioners of Delhi's South, West and Central zones for not complying with its order to seal unauthorised constructions.
A bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta also summoned chairman of Special Task Force (STF), constituted to monitor issues relating to unauthorised constructions in Delhi, to appear before it on July 18.
The monitoring committee - mandated to identify and seal unauthorised structures in the national capital - alleged non cooperation by the civic agencies in a report filed before the bench.
The bench while perusing the report, took into note a media report submitted by the committee, as per which Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had rapped the officials for carrying out the drive without using "common sense".
"You (government) have no intention to work, which even the monitoring committee has informed. Your minister said that the monitoring committee had no common sense in sealing the properties. Monitoring committee was constituted by us, that means the court has no sense as per you," said the bench.
"We do not have common sense. We do not know how to work. Please ask him where should we get common sense. Is it available in the market? Ask him so that we can get some common sense also," Justice Lokur told Additional Solicitor General A.N.S. Nadkarni, who was appearing for the Centre.
"We are being told that we lack common sense. If something is there in the newspapers, you say it is false. That is why we do not have common sense.
"See how your department is making hurdles in the working of the committee," said the anguished bench.
The report said that pubs and dancing clubs are working in illegal properties and the SDMC has not taken any action, added the bench.
The court was earlier told that the municipal bodies was refusing to carry out the directions of the committee on the grounds that the amendments to the Master Plan-2021 were yet to be finalised.
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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.
