Bhubaneswar, March 19: The much-hyped water ATM project of the municipal corporation has failed to take-off despite summer being around the corner.

The Rs 6.5-crore project includes setting up of 40 water dispensing kiosks or ATMs.

People will be able to get drinking water from these kiosks at a rate of 35 paise per litre. However, a person can buy a maximum of 20 litres of water.

The idea of a water ATM was first floated by the civic body in July last year and it was also hopeful on providing drinking water through these machines at least by summer this year. But this is not going to happen.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has prepared a detailed project report for setting up the water ATMs in the city and four treatment plants will supply purified water to these kiosks.

"The report has been submitted to the housing and urban development department and once we receive the administrative approval, the project will be implemented," said deputy commissioner (projects) and public relations officer of the civic body Srimanta Mishra.

In order to stop water misuse, people will be encouraged to avail of the service through smart cards as the water ATMs will be managed by an agency selected by the civic body.

"The ATMs will ensure that the water is purer than that available at home using ordinary water purifiers. The ATMs will be installed at important localities, including remote areas facing water scarcity, and slums across the city," Mishra said.

"With the fear of jaundice and other communicable diseases is looming large, the delay in setting up water ATMs in the city is a concern. Such projects are working in Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat," said Loknath Dash, a resident of the city.

The Telegraph had first reported on the water ATM plan on July 12 last year. A senior BMC engineer had then told The Telegraph that the civic body would need at least three months to complete the project.

BMC executive engineer R.N. Mallick said: "In Bhubaneswar we have water impurities such as total dissolved solids (TDS) and bacteria Escherichia coli. Out of several TDS components, iron is a major concern.

The four stages of purification involves two stages of micro filtration through carbon particles, one layer of membrane filtration (reverse osmosis or RO) and ultra-violate (UV) purification. This would finally make the water very pure."

Thick stainless steel containers would be use to transport the purified water. The water would be UV treated before filling the ATMs to ensure that citizens get best quality drinking water.

"People have to carry their own containers to collect the water from these ATMs," a senior BMC official said.