Just insert one rupee coin into what can be called water ATMs and slake your thirst with RO water. This is what the Haridwar district administration has kept in store at a time when the summer is slowly setting in. If things goes well, Hari Ki Pauri and bus stands of Haridwar and Roorkee would have water dispensing machines for the people to quench their thirst with. These water ATMS are very cost effective, said the district administration officials, adding that they would launch the innovative drinking water scheme in association with an NGO.
The pilgrims to the holy city would soon have 24x7 access to clean drinking water, they said. They are now being forced to shell out Rs 20 for a bottle of mineral water. The district administration is planning to install water ATMs with the help of an NGO.
These water vending machines would allow the people to fill containers too with water for a subsidised price. By swapping water ATM card, one would be allowed to take maximum of 20 litres of water in a day. Alternatively, insertion of 1 rupee or 5 rupee coin would dispense a litre and five litres of water from the machine.
Speaking to The Pioneer, the economical and statistics officer R K Asthana said, “Many pilgrims who come to the holy city for pilgrimage can’t afford to spend money on mineral water. For them, this would be the best option to have access to drinking water. Just shell out one rupee and you will get one litre water. As part of innovative fund, district administration has agreed on the proposal. Within a month after getting consent from the State government, things would be implemented.”
Regarding the maintenance of these machines, Asthana said, “The company which would install the ATM would also maintain it for five years, free of cost. Every third day, its engineer would come and monitor the functioning of the machine. The ATM cards would have facility to be recharged,” he said.
He further said a single ATM costs Rs 5.10 lakh. “The capacity of the water ATM is 12000 litres and it would be connected to borewell water supply or drinking tap,” he added.
The ATMs would also act as advertisement panels. On the upper side of the ATM, lED screen would be set which would display information on new schemes or products. The machines would have wheels which can be moved as per the need, the officer said.