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Water Trolleys Everywhere: But do these offer a viable drop to drink? Views from the 'water trolley boys' of Delhi

Rohit DavidApril 17, 2019 | 15:11 IST

One can spot water trolleys at every nook and corner of the city.

Around 30 years back, they were selling one glass of cold water for 25 paise — which has gone up to Rs 2 now. DailyO takes a look into the lives of water trolley boys and asks if people come to buy water from them in the age of plastic bottles?

Water depots dispense water inside the tanks. (Picture: Author)

‘We are instructed to say, water is filtered

Life has changed for Shambu Kumar who has been putting his water trolley up at Town Hall since 1990. “People don’t want to drink water from us now. They have this presumption that water is not filtered and we don’t wash our hands before giving them water,” said Kumar. The 30-year-old said that there is no check to see if the water from where they get supplies has an RO tag or not. “My owner has instructed me to tell everyone that the water is filtered. I have never seen any filtration at the water depot,” added Kumar.

Today, a glass of water comes at Rs 2 — and lemonade for Rs 10. “With times, we have changed the way we sell water. Our owner has put a flex board sheet around the trolley trying to convince people that the water is RO filtered. A Bisleri bottle can be bought for Rs 20 — but if you bring the same bottle to me, I’ll fill it up for Rs 10. I must admit that unlike before, the number of customers has come down. Now, everyone likes packaged water with a stamp on it. Even though we have done our bit to change, the number of customers hasn’t increased. Most of our customers are daily labourers who can’t afford packed water bottles,” said Hadir Khan (17), water trolley boy who enjoys getting baked in the sun and dreads cloudy days.

There are 8-10 tanks in the water depots, which then distributes supplies to water trolleys. (Picture: Author)

Where do they get water from?

The day of a water trolley boy starts early — they reach the water depot at 6 AM to get their trolley filled. “It hardly takes five minutes before our trolley is full. I have never filled it beyond the half-way mark; otherwise it would be difficult for me to move it,” said Ram Kumar (19). So, where does the water come from? At Sitaram Bazaar, there are at least 5-6 water depots stationed in small rooms where shopkeepers have placed 8-10 non-functional trolleys and converted them into makeshift tanks. Mohammad Ilyas, caretaker of the depot, said: “Water comes in the morning, so we store water in these tanks; three high-powered motors pump water from the tanks.”

Ilyas did say that the water is filtered — but there were no visible filter machines to ensure that the water is purified. In a small pink room, workers are busy filling water in jugs which they will give to shopkeepers in the area. “You are not allowed to take photographs inside this room. Go out,” said Ilyas.

MCD gives a licence to each water trolley to run in the city. (Picture: Author)

Every water trolley needs a licence

The corporation had issued 1,623 licences for water trolleys last year; this number varies, depending on the number of applicants. Sampath Kumar (35), water trolley boy, said: “For any trolley to stand on the road, ‘Municipal Corporation of Delhi’ (MCD) gives a licence. It is renewed every year.” The licence fee is Rs 1000, an MCD official inspects the water trolley and from where the water is filled.

“Usually, these inspectors never come. The owner of trolleys have a setting with them and they never show up,” said Khan, a water trolley boy.

The water trolley business runs only for six months. But it involves standing for hundreds of hours. (Picture: Author)

Only a six-month job

The water cooler trolley business runs only from Holi to Diwali.

“Most of the water trolley boys are migrants like me who came to Delhi from Bihar in search of a better life. Every month, I get Rs 5000 — this is ample considering that as a labourer, I was not getting half this my home state. After Diwali, I leave Delhi and go back to Bihar — and work there as a labourer,” said Vijay, who stands for 14 hours a day, which is a prerequisite his trolley owner demands.

Also read: Pakistan's Barbaric Cruelty: Several captive pigeons burnt alive, simply for losing a race in Faisalabad

Last updated: April 17, 2019 | 15:11
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