Hindustan Times 17.02.2010
WR does its bit for city’s water crisisTo deal with the city’s water scarcity, Western Railway (WR) is planning to dig borewells from Churchgate to Virar.
“We have invited tenders for the digging of borewells, because we would rather share the burden than put pressure on the municipal corporation,” said WR’s chief PRO S Gupta.
It is estimated that 60-70 borewells will be needed across the city. “We will gradually have tenders for other areas too, to meet the need for non-potable water for washing and other purposes at stations,” Gupta added. By March-end, WR will select a private contractor, who will then have three months to dig the borewells.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) earlier supplied around two lakh litres of water to the railways and other bulk consumers. Two months ago, they sent these consumers a circular asking them to arrange for alternate sources of water for non-potable use.
Borewell water will be needed for WR’s officers’ quarters at Mumbai Central, as well as their headquarters at Churchgate station.
Apart from platforms, tracks and toilets, both blocks of the railway hospital at Mumbai Central will also be served by these borewells. The cost of digging these borewells is around Rs 63 lakh, which could increase if more borewells need to be dug across the suburban line.
