The Delhi Government on Friday announced a dual push to install water vending machines also known as water ATMs across Government schools and public spaces throughout the city.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who visited a Government school in her Shalimar Bagh constituency along with Water Minister Parvesh Verma, inaugurated the first such water ATM on campus. She said the machines would soon be installed in all Government schools to ensure that students have regular access to purified, cold drinking water.
“Clean drinking water is a basic right. Our aim is to provide this facility not only in every Government school but also in public places like markets, metro stations, hospitals, and bus terminals,” Gupta said during the inauguration event. The initiative, she added, will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, supported through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions from private firms.
To manage operation and maintenance costs, the companies setting up these ATMs will be granted advertising rights on and around the units. A pilot project to install 20 such ATMs in key public areas will be rolled out soon, officials said.
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has already invited private companies to participate in this effort. According to DJB officials, the water ATMs will be standalone units with inbuilt water purification systems — equipped with real-time water quality monitors, digital display panels and GPS tracking for real-time location monitoring. Each unit will have a minimum capacity of 500 litres and be constructed from stainless steel, with a built-in reverse osmosis (RO) system and cold water dispensing capabilities, especially for summer months between March and October.
Addressing a gathering during her school visit, Gupta sharply criticised the previous AAP administration for what she termed its “hollow claims” about an education model. She alleged that lakhs of academically weaker students were removed from Government schools under the previous regime.
Gupta announced that the current Government plans to add 7,000 smart classrooms across Delhi’s schools this year, along with 100 language laboratories and 175 digital libraries to improve the overall learning environment. Additionally, as part of the 2025–26 Budget, the Government will distribute laptops to 1,200 meritorious students. “In the past, 100 students were given tablets through CSR funds provided by a bank. Now, we are expanding our efforts and recognising academic excellence on a wider scale,” she said.
Meanwhile, Water Minister Parvesh Verma reiterated the Government’s broader plan to set up 5,000 water ATMs citywide. Of these, about 3,000 will be funded directly by the Delhi Jal Board, with the remaining installed through partnerships with the private sector.