Sunday, October 10, 2010

Water issues…

By Summya Khan

Water is life… well we all agree on this one. Without this ‘hydrogen-combined-with-oxygen-in-a-two-is-to-one- ratio’ compound, we are nothing but dust. And when we are at KU, the normal requirement of this liquid is abnormally, doubled and sometimes tripled.

All the readers of Sahafionline must have learnt these facts by heart now: how we travel long distances to get to our Mass Communication department, how we wait on shuttles that arrive late, how we bargain on fares with the rickshaw folk, how we take the risk of lifts and how we sometimes get chased by dogs. After clearing all these levels, one gets tired and when one gets tired one gets thirsty. And one gets insane when one finds out that there are no water coolers inside the department. Yes, nowadays at Mass Communication we have been deprived of this blessing. Reason is still unknown, but my guess is that they have been removed probably because of the unhygienic conditions of the water cooler and the place where it stood.

Whenever I feel thirsty I drink water from my own bottle but a time comes during the day when it gets all empty and I am forced to visit that cooler. On its drain slab, I mostly find betel nuts and “supaari” wrappers. Now, how am I supposed to drink from this thing? It’s disgusting to see the traditional eastern broom a.k.a. ‘jhaaroo’ leaning comfortably against the water cooler (as if they have been good pals). And the filter is there only for ornamental purposes. It doesn’t work I guess. Does it? It’s for me to know and for you to find out. I don’t want to confirm my doubt as many of my friends pleasurably drink from it or used to. There are no coolers for now.

 I would want to request my authorities to at least install hygienic and reliable water coolers instead of removing them. We need them since we can’t buy dozens of Mineral Water Bottles everyday. And please, don’t drink from those installed at the Sociology department especially…their connections come from the washrooms. God knows if they are “REALLY” connected or not. Better safe than sorry people.