At Stephen's students face drought

ST STEPHEN''S: Students at St Stephen''sCollege are getting a taste of severe drought conditions. They simply have hadno drinking water in the college for nearly two weeks now. The only option is tobuy bottled water from outside.Meanwhile, their neighbours acrossthe road at Hindu College seem to have the "rare commodity" in abundance. "Therehas been no water shortage here," said Tanya, a second year student ofHindu.Students at St Stephen''s are more than just a little upsetabout this. Naturally so. "I don''t believe that the college despite all its namecan''t even ensure drinking water for us. I end up bringing water from home,"said a first year student. She and her classmate both agree that if there wasscarcity of water, the college "could have made some temporaryarrangements".A hostel student, too,seemed rather upset about the drinking water shortage. "The place seems like ithas dried up. Some staff members told us that the construction workers withinthe premises have tapped the main supply with a booster and led to theshortage," he said.According to staff members, the problem has beenbrought to the notice of authorities over two weeks ago when it was "still atthe stage of scarcity." However, they complain that no action hasbeen taken. "There has been no drinking water in the coolers for nearly twoweeks now. I have been told that the authorities were informed just as theproblem had begun. But, they were simply told to bring water from their homes,"said the head of the department (mathematics) Nandita Narain.She added: "No thought ormoney is being spared for the welfare of staff or students."Collegedean, Sanjay Rao Ayde, denied that there was any severe shortage: "The wholecity is facing a water crisis and so are we. We are in touch with the concernedDJB officials as well. But there is drinking water. I have checkedthe water coolers. As far as the construction work affecting water supply isconcerned, it is not possible at all. We wouldn''t allow them to tap our drinkingwater supply."