13 of 20 water ATMs non-functional in Guwahati city

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Of the 20 water ATMs installed in the city by the Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) in 2018 with a budget of Rs 2 crore for the comfort of citizens, particularly during summer, 13 water ATMs have been non-functional for the past few months.

Speaking to The Sentinel, Pankaj Medhi of Chandmari said the residents of Guwahati feel that the project was a waste of taxpayers' funds. "The taxpayers' money should have been better spent on preventing crime by installing streetlights or CCTV cameras around the city," he said.

A water ATM is an automated water-vending machine that distributes pure drinking water when a coin or note is inserted in the proper slot. A water-vending machine functions similarly to a traditional bank ATM, except that it dispenses water rather than cash. 250 ml of water costs Rs 1, one litre costs Rs 5, 5 litres costs Rs 10, and 20 litres costs Rs 25 in the water ATMs.

The contract of operating and maintaining water ATMs has been given to a third party.

A water ATM caretaker said that he gets paid Rs 9,000 per month to look after the water ATM around the clock. However, he left the job because the third party had paid him only Rs 6,000 per month last year. He went on to say that the average daily revenue at the water ATM in question was between Rs 500 and Rs 600.

Meanwhile, the water ATM in front of the Mohendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH) was discovered to be broken.

Water ATMs were placed in 20 different locations throughout the city, including the GMCH, MMCH, Dr B Barooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Regional Science Centre at Khanapara and the Assam State Zoo and Botanical Garden.

Also Read: Water ATMs in Guwahati city heading for uncertain future

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