Ahmedabad Water conservation France In 20 days since inauguration, 3,000 litre RO water has been used to clean three coaches and 1 train. Metro services in countries like Japan and France reclaim the waste water after washing. Ahmedabad Metro can use 50% treated and 50% Narmada water. Using RO water for washing makes no sense Assist Prof Manish Kumar, IIT-Gandhinagar I am shocked to know that drinking water is used to wash train. There are people in the city who do not even have access to water and rely on water tankers. Officials should recycle water used to clean metro Urvashi, businesswoman We receive AMC water from 6 am to 8 am. It is not enough to take care of daily needs. It is ironical that we have to live with limited water supply and metro is washed with RO water Abhishek Yadav, Resident of Vastral Less than a kilometer away from the newly-started stretch ofMetro in Vastral, people struggle to get drinking water and depend on water tankers for their daily needs. But, there’s problem of plenty at the metro yard.While people suffer, the metro coaches are kept squeaky clean using Reverse Osmosis (RO) treated water. About 1,000 litre of RO water is used per week to clean the coaches internally and externally that can quench daily thirst of 250 persons.No wonder, citizens and water conservationists are crying foul. The 6.5 km stretch of metro train, between Vastral Gam Station and Apparel Park, was inaugurated on March 4. Along the same stretch, residents either get contaminated water or are yet to get water connection.According to Ahmedabad Metro authorities, the water drawn from borewells is hard and leaves stain marks on metal body of coaches if used untreated. A 500 litre per hour RO plant has been specially set up at Apparel Park metro depot to treat water. About 100 litre RO water is used daily to clean coaches. Once a week, another 300 litre treated water is used for external cleaning of coaches.On an average 1,000 litre water is used per week. Over 6,00 litre residual water from the RO plant, left behind after treatment, is used for cleaning toilets and metro station. In 20 days since inauguration, 3,000 litre RO water has been used to clean three coaches and 1train. Once the Phase 1is fully operational, there will be 96 coaches and 32 trains.Amit Gupta, Chief General Manager (Corporate planning), Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited, said, “The bore water we draw is hard. It’s salt content leaves behind stain marks on the metal and glass body of coaches. The same practice is followed to wash metro coaches all over the country.“We can’t help it because it is a technical requirement. Also, water used is minimal. We use our own bore and don’t draw from city water supply.”expert and Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences at IIT-Gandhinagar Manish Kumar said, “Metro services in countries like Japan andreclaim the waste water after washing. If hardness is a problem for the Ahmedabad Metro, they can use 50% of the treated water and 50% Narmada water. Using RO water for washing makes no sense.”He further said, “A probable solution is that the RO water used for washing can be accumulated and used to clean toilets at stations. But in no way should the RO water be wasted.”Dinesh Sharma, Leader of Opposition in AMC, said, “Areas like Lambha, Vastral, Sarkhej and Maktampura face either short supply or poor-quality water supply. Several areas receive water through tankers. The situation will turn worse as summer advances.”An Amraiwadi resident told Mirror on condition of anonymity, “I have been staying here for the past four years and am yet to get AMC water connection. I have applied for the connection and approached the officials stating the poor quality of water we receive but all in vain. It’s criminal wastage of water and resources if RO water is used to clean trains.”Abhishek Yadav (21), a resident of Vastral, said, “We receive AMC water from 6 am to 8 am. It is not enough to take care of daily needs. It is ironical that we have to live with limited water supply, leave aside dream of 24x7 supply being sold to us, and metro is washed with RO water.”Urvashi, 23, a businesswoman who receives Narmada water 24x7 at her place, said, “I am shocked to know that drinking water is used to wash train. There are people in the city who do not even have access to water and rely on water tankers. The officials should recycle the water used it for cleaning.”

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