E. coli bacteria found in drinking water at railway stations, CAG flags violation of norms

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised concerns over water quality at railway stations after detecting E. coli bacteria in drinking water samples. The findings, detailed in a report titled 'Passenger Amenities and Sanitation at Non-Suburban Railway Stations in Indian Railways', indicate that E. coli was present in water coolers at eight out of 49 stations, including several Mumbai local stations, as well as locations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand.

Inspection of water supply systems was not conducted regularly, leading to deficiencies in testing for residual chlorine, bacteriological analysis, and chemical analysis. The report highlighted that the prescribed Uniform Drinking Water Quality protocol was not adhered to, with tests for several parameters not conducted. The CAG emphasized the need for stricter adherence to testing protocols and recommended that Indian Railways follow these guidelines more rigorously to ensure the provision of safe drinking water to passengers at all railway stations.