Railway officials on Tuesday had told DNA that the two rakes would be steam-cleaned and ready for water-carrying duties by the first week of May. They are expected to be deployed in Maharashtra soon after, said officials.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday told DNA that the two new water wagon rakes being steam-cleaned for water duties will also be deployed in Maharashtra. He said that the rakes would be deployed on a shorter route towards Latur so that the project of transporting water to the parched town can be expedited and streamlined. DNA had carried an exclusive report in its Wednesday edition about two more rakes being readied at the Wagon Repair Workshops of Kota and Jhansi respectively for Maharashtra.
Fadnavis told this newspaper that the state would provide water to Latur and adjoining areas from Dudhna river. The rakes would be deployed via Partur which will reduce the rake's journey considerably. While Miraj is at 375 Kms from Latur, Dudhana via Partur is at 290 Kms from Latur.
While there was some speculation among a section of railway officials about whether the two rakes would be used in the Vidarbha region since the area is also facing a drought, Fadnavis denied it. He said that the two rakes would be for Latur since the situation there remains grave.
Railway officials on Tuesday had told DNA that the two rakes would be steam-cleaned and ready for water-carrying duties by the first week of May. They are expected to be deployed in Maharashtra soon after, said officials.
Dna had published in its April 21 edition about the government planning this 'water to Latur via Partur' plan. As of now almost 25 million litres of water have been provided by train from Miraj to Latur. The current plan calls for drawing water from the Krishna river near Miraj and then transporting it to Latur about 375 kms away. The streamlining of the process of loading and unloading the water has meant that railways and the state are now able to send a full 50-wagon rake carrying 25 lakh litres of water every day.
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