Many water ATMs go defunct across city

Musheerabad: Water ATM machines established a year ago with an objective to provide quality drinking water at affordable price, are lying in the state of neglect due to improper maintenance.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) established water ATMs, which purify water using modern technology, at Arundhati Nagar, Vidyanagar, Baghlingampally with the help of voluntary organizations.

Initially, the machines worked well and people have put the machines to use. Gradually, the lack of maintenance by the voluntary organizations and supervision has rendered the machines useless.

Durga Prasad, a medical representative who travels extensively in the city as part of his duty, said that he had dropped a two rupee coin in the slot to get water and realised the machine was not working. He had to buy a water bottle from the nearby retail shop by paying Rs 20.

Kanakaraju, a resident of Arundhati Nagar, said that the machines were bought from foreign countries and were inaugurated by the mayor with pomp, but they forgot to maintain it.

"We felt happy when it was inaugurated, thinking that we can buy water from machine when tap supply is irregular, but we are now disappointed with the GHMC."

Lakshmaiah, a resident of Vidyanagar, said that most machines can be repaired again. Some machines have technical issues, while others are left useless due to lack of maintenance, he added.

When The Hans India contacted GHMC Deputy Commissioner of Musheerabad circle on the issue, he said that it is the water board that is responsible for the maintenance of water ATMs.

When the same issue was raised with Water Board officials, they said that the board is responsiblea only to supply water to the ATMs. They said that the responsibility of maintenance belongs to the third party NGO, which is given the land by the GHMC.

Narayanamma, a vegetable vendor at Ramnagar, succinctly puts it, "If there is a need for these water ATMs, it is now in summer."

By Bodike Manohar