Thirsty Ambernath seethes at Railway痴 new dam plan….Binoo Nair
The dam in the area that powered steam engines many decades ago will now be used to produce packaged water, residents suffering water crisis demand access to the facility
The dam in the area that powered steam engines many decades ago will now be used to produce packaged water, residents suffering water crisis demand access to the facility
Ambernath痴 most famous landmark � the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Dam � whose waters powered hundreds of thousands of steam locomotives, will now quench thirst on trains and at railway platforms.
The railway will use the dam to source water for its plant, coming up as part of the Rail Neer project, much to the annoyance of Ambernath, Dombivali and Kalyan residents, who are reeling under acute water shortage.
The railway recently issued tenders for the plant, being built on a 20,000 sq mt plot. It aims to produce around three lakh bottles of water every day, from the very dam the civic bodies in Ambernath and nearby townships have been fighting for. The dam was built during the British Raj.
Last year, after a particularly draining summer, corporators from Ambernath Municipal Council pitched in to take over the dam and develop it on the lines of the five water reservoirs that supply water to the city and suburbs.
The Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) was also eyeing the dam to sustain the fast-expanding townships. The Central Railway refused to entertain any such request, despite MLA Murbad Kisan Kathore writing to the authorities.
Railway currently depends on its plants in Nangloi in Delhi and Danapur near Patna to drive the Rail Neer project. But these plants supply less than 10 per cent of total packaged water sold/distributed on trains and railway stations.
Last week, the Railway Ministry through its wholly-owned Indian Rail Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) finalised details of the Ambernath plant, worth Rs 20 crore. A Railway official said, 典his dam was built by the railway after acquiring Kakole Lake in Jhambivali village at Ambernath. Earlier, its water powered our steam locomotives. Now, we will use it to increase the production of packaged water under Rail Neer project. Why is the railway being bullied into giving the dam away? It is not fair.�
The Railway Ministry move has ensured the citizens will not have access to the water from the dam. However, politicians are not willing to give up the fight; rather, they cannot afford to, considering the water crisis people put up with every day.
Kathore said, 鏑et them (railway) produce packaged water, but shouldn’t they listen to citizens’ problems too? After all, the citizens are railway’s customers. We even told them to share the water. I hope better sense prevails and Railway looks beyond commerce.�
OUT OF STEAM
* The Great Indian Peninsular Railway was renamed Central Railway post Independence reorganisation.
* The Great Indian Peninsular Railway was renamed Central Railway post Independence reorganisation.
* The dam at Ambernath, built during the British Raj, powered steam locomotives. The railway stopped steam locomotives production in 1970 and by 1985, they were phased out.
* Till 1997, around 75 steam engines were still used. But now, their usage has been totally stopped for passenger and freight purposes. They run only on heritage routes.
– A group of children beat the summer heat by swimming in the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Dam in Ambernath on Sunday
– Railway aims to produce three lakh bottles of water every day from the dam water