Bhubaneswar: The civic body's lax attitude in maintaining water kiosks across the city has left residents incensed.

The soaring temperatures in Bhubaneswar has compounded the problems for people who gave vent to their ire against the civic body. "They inaugurated the kiosk here in 2016, but it became defunct soon after since the civic body was never regular in filling those," said Baramunda resident Satyam Mishra.

Defunct or broken water kiosks dot the city. "It has enraged people. They have broken the taps out of anger," said Mishra, a shopkeeper.

The conditions of kiosks at Unit-I, Unit-VIII, Kharavela Nagar, Sachivalaya Marg, Madusudan Marg and Ananda Bazaar Square mirror each other.

"It is not wise of the civic body to leave the kiosks in such a state. These are meant to quench the thirst of people, but it is not serving its purpose," said social worker Alok Kar.

The civic body inaugurates such kiosks every year during Local Self-Government Day. It has also collaborated with a private firm to introduce 100 more such kiosks besides the water ATMs and makeshift kiosks.

However, neither the water ATMs nor the kiosks or the recently opened standalone jala chhatras serve their purpose.

Bhubaneswar has 40 water ATMs, 100 jala chhatras and several kiosks. "I will direct the division concerned to restore the defunct kiosks. We are making attempts to sensitise people on the use of water ATMs," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena adding that 100 jal seva sibirs had been set up for people.