The court sought the information after the DMRC, in an affidavit, said that people needing water as an emergent need at stations that do not have ATMs or kiosks, can approach officials.
The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation why it cannot provide free drinking water to commuters similar to metro services in Kochi, Jaipur, Lucknow and other cities. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice VK Rao also asked the rail body to share the plan it will formulate to provide free water to commuters at one location inside metro stations which is accessible to everyone."Clarify how you (DMRC) will implement it. Clarify if you can provide free drinking water at one particular point in a station which is accessible to all commuters," it said, listing the matter for October 11.
The court sought the information after the DMRC, in an affidavit, said that people needing water as an emergent need at stations that do not have ATMs or kiosks, can approach officials. The court was hearing a petition filed by one Kush Kalra, which submitted that metro services in other cities were providing free drinking water to commuters, but Delhi metro, which was a consultant in all those projects, was not.
Taking note of the submission, the court asked DMRC, "What is your justification for that?" The DMRC told the bench that it can provide signs on metro stations informing where free drinking water would be available in case of an emergency. The metro also said it has set up water ATMs at its stations which provide water at a nominal charge of Rs two per glass. There were also kiosks and shops which sell drinking water, it said. It also said that commuters are free to carry their own drinking water.
The DMRC had earlier told the court that only a nominal fee was charged by it for drinking water and toilets at its stations to prevent misuse of these facilities.
The court was hearing Kalra's appeal against a single judge's order that metro commuters do not have right to free drinking water. The single judge had said that a person has a right to drinking water, but not for free. Kalra had sought directions to the DMRC to provide free drinking water and toilets at its stations.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Drinking Water")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}