20 'water ATMs' to quench common man's thirst

Kolkata: Following a directive from chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the National Rural Drinking Water Programme has decided to build 20 'water ATMs' across the city by end-July. The first such ATM had been inaugurated at Ekdalia Park near Gariahat in south Kolkata during Durga Puja last year.
These coin-operated ATMs - under the state's 'Pran Dhara' project - will provide a litre of potable water for Rs 2.Public health engineering minister Subrata Mukherjee said the aim was to provide a cheaper alternative to those who cannot afford to pay Rs 18 for a litre of bottled water. "The water ATMs will establish the poor man's rights to safe drinking water," the minister said.
The new ATMs will come up, among other places, at Alipur Court, Kalighat temple, Dakshineswar Temple, the Nakhoda mosque, state hospitals like SSKM, Calcutta Medical College, Jadavpur University and Alia University.
Kolkata might be the first city brought under this scheme, the minister added.
Each ATM will cost Rs 12 lakh to construct and will have an attendant, whose main job will be to help people with the coin operations.
20 more drinking water ATM is coming up across the city's most populous zones. Significantly, following a request from the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDP) for the first time included urban area like Kolkata for building water ATMs. Bengal's Public Health Engineering (PHE) minister Subrata Mukherjee said that Kolkata might be the first city under this scheme and it will open up other urban growth centres to avail this scheme.
Within next one month, water ATMs will be coming up at Alipur Court, Kalighat temple, Dakshineswar Temple, Chitpur nakhoda Mosque, hospitals like SSKM, Calcutta Medical, Jadavpur and Alia University. People can buy bacteria free one litre of potable water at Rs 2. The cost of construction of each ATM is Rs 12 lakh. Each ATM will be manned and the man would help person with coins for drawing water.
The government also has plans to setup over 200 such ATMs in several districts, with the aim of providing safe water for the poor and deprived. City's first water ATM was established at Ekdalia Park near Gariahat in south Kolkata. A litre of potable water has been priced at Rs 2 which will enable all sections of society to access clean drinking water by inserting coins. The initiative is part of the state's 'Pran Dhara' packaged drinking water project.
There have been allegations that numerous companies have been selling water a premium. Each bottle is priced at Rs 18. "Majority of urban poor just cannot afford it. So they often buy inferior contaminated water. The water ATM will establish poor man's rights for safe drinking water. NRDP will take help of Kolkata Municipal Corporation as far as supply of potable water is concerned," said Mukherjee.