CM Kumaraswamy demands Centre for immediate coal supply to Raichur Thermal Power Station
New Delhi, Dec 27:Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy met Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday here and demanded the Centre to ensure immediate supply of coal to Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS).
RTPS, Yermarus Thermal Power Station and Ballari Thermal Power Station are facing coal shortages for quite some time.
"During the meeting, the chief minister requested him (Goyal) to allot coal blocks for RTPS, BTPS and Yaramaras plants," said an official statement issued by the Karnataka government.
Kumaraswamy also requested the Centre to direct state-run Coal India and its subsidiary Western Coalfields to supply coal immediately to RTPS which has low stock.
Besides coal, the chief minister also discussed a railway-related project with Goyal, who also holds the charge of the railways ministry.
Kumaraswamy sought the Centre to take up construction of a new railway line from Bidar to Naded.
Bidar is one of the most backward districts in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region and it also a pilgrimage place for Sikhs and included under the Nanded pilgrimage circuit.
A survey on the 154-km new railway line is complete and submitted to the Railway Board. The chief minister sought to implement the project soon.
Kumaraswamy has lined up a couple of meetings with Union ministers to discuss pending state issues. Earlier during the day, he met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and sought extension of GST compensation period beyond 2025.
He is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later during the day to discuss drought relief fund.
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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.
