Can’t give free water to commuters, says DMRC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Thursday informed the Delhi High court that they cannot provide free water to commuters as it did not have any source of providing drinking water facility on its own and is dependent on the Delhi Jal Board and other agencies for the same.

The DMRC also informed the bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V Kameswar that water is available for Rs 2 at the Metro stations.

“……DMRC has no source of providing drinking water facility of its own and is dependent on the Delhi Jal Board and other agencies for providing the same. Even for the staff members, DMRC regularly purchases por- table drinking water from third party vendors after payment.

The court was hearing the appeal against a single judge’s order that commuters on the Delhi Metro do not have the right to free drinking water.

The single judge had said a person has a right to drinking water, but not for free. The order had come on a plea by the petitioner, who had sought directions to the DMRC to provide free drinking water and free toilets at its stations.

In the affidavit, the DMRC reiterated its previous stand and stated, “…..the drinking water facility at Rs 2 per glass is available at almost all the Metro stations and where the said facility is not available, then the commuter can ask for drinking water from the staff members, who would then provide water to such commuters without any costs and for which purposes appropriate signage would be provided”.

DMRC added that it has already given requisite instructions to its staff working at the Metro stations for providing free drinking water to the commuters, if demanded, in case of non-availability of the paid drinking water facility at the Metro stations.

The affidavit also added that DMRC has been regularly interacting with the commuters for the purpose of feedback on the aspects which requires any improvement or special emphasis. However, there were complaints for not providing free water facility during the last so many years.

The matter would be now heard on January 21 next year.