MANISH RAJ
Deoghar, April 20: There is a well-known Hindi proverb that goes like, “Ka barkha jb krishi sukhane (There is no point of rain when the crop has already dried).”
This proverb suites the poor condition of the cold drinking system prevailing on Jasidih Junction nowadays. While on one hand, the water vending machines installed here are not functional, on the other hand, free access to cold drinking water is also troublesome.
The taps are supplying hot water during the day rather than cold because the cooling system of these taps is yet to be repaired. Due to the failure of these cold-water drinking systems, passengers of low-income groups have to pay much to quench their throats.
There are four vending machines and five cold drinking water taps installed on different platforms of the junction but none is functioning.
Due to this, the passengers are forced to pay for packed water bottles much more than normal prices. Especially, the passengers of local trains have to buy water from vendors who are selling unknown brands of bottles.
It is ironic because Jasidih junction has been an important railway station of the Asansol division for a long time. Thousands of devotees reach Baba Baidyanath Dham Temple to worship by train on normal days. But the footfall reaches lakhs during two months of Shravani Mela.
Even the residents of border districts of the neighbouring state catch the Delhi-Howrah bound trains along with other destinations from Jasidih Junction.
Hence, Jasidih junction gives more revenue as compared to other stations of the rail division.
Meanwhile, officers deputed at this station are reluctant to give any statement on the poor condition of drinking water. Although the DRM of Asansol Rail division Parma Nand Sharma during his recent visit replied to the media that the tender procedure was going on.
