Bhubaneswar, Oct. 27: The water ATMs, which functioned only for 10 days after their inauguration on August 31, have finally started to work.
The authorities had woken up to the problem after The Telegraph reported on the situation on October 24. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had expedited the process and secured power supply to the machines today.
Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena told this newspaper that the machines had been lying defunct because they did not have the required electricity connection.
Power officials visited the sites and provided the permanent connection today. "People can get the card and can also use coins to get water from the ATMs," said Jena.
The announcement of the ambitious project was made in 2014. After two years, the city got three water ATMs at Jharana Sahi, Patrapada and Pokhariput. However, all the three machines stopped functioning only 10 days after inauguration because the officials disconnected power supply.
Of the three ATMs, the one at Jharana Sahi is considered important because of the slum's location near the chief minister's residence. Earlier this year, 50 residents of the slum had to be treated for jaundice due to unavailability of clean drinking water.
"I hope the water ATM will now function smoothly and cater to our needs," said Chinmay Jena, a Jharana Sahi resident.
The city civic body had entered into an agreement last July with Piramal Sarvajal for installation of 40 water ATMs and construction of four water treatment plants in the city. "We are committed to serve the people of the city. We have successfully started the first three ATMs and has asked our partner to expedite the process to finish the project by January," said the mayor.
The civic body plans to begin issuing smart cards to the people for using the ATMs. Anyone could get the prepaid card for using the facility by paying Rs 50, which will have a top-up balance of Rs 20. Users will be charged 60 paise for a litre of water. People without smart cards can insert a one-rupee coin in the ATMs and get a litre of water at a time.
