GUWAHATI: Many water ATMs in the city installed by the Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) in 2018 still remain dysfunctional. Residents around the city have been complaining about the incompetency of the authorities regarding the maintenance of the project.
G Plus visited a few locations where the water ATMs have been installed namely the Guwahati Ropeway in Kachari Ghat, Nakkata Pukhuri in Panbazar, Food Villa in Panbazar, Machkhowa Ferry Ghat and near Judges Field are not operational from the last few years.
A water ATM is an automated water vending machine that dispenses pure drinking water when a coin or note is inserted into it. A water vending machine works like any regular bank ATM, the only difference being that it provides water instead of money.
Talking to G Plus, a pan shop owner, adjacent to the Food Villa said, “This water ATM has not been functioning from a very long time. During the summer season people particularly the students of the colleges around come to refill their water bottles and leave disappointed as the water ATM remains dysfunctional.”
“The government is wasting money on these projects. While taking on a project they should make sure of the sustainability of it. Only implementing the project is not considered as the end of the responsibility,” said Gunajit Das, a resident of Chandmari.
Reportedly, the water ATM installed near the Nakkata Pukhuri, Panbazar is not working since 2021 Durga Puja. The one installed in the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH) was too found out of order.
Talking to G Plus, an employee of the Reboti Chat House said, “The water ATM here is not working and has never been looked after by the authorities. It has merely turned into a box with dust.”
G Plus tried contacting the Guwahati Smart City Limited but did not get any response.
Each of the water ATM set by the GSCL cost ₹ 10 Lakh while the total installation budget of the project was ₹ 2 crore.
The Government of Assam had launched a total of 20 water ATMs in Guwahati at various location under the Smart City project in 2018. There are two water ATMs in Chandmari, one in Silpukhuri, three in Paltan Bazar, four in Fancy Bazar, two in Panbazar, one in Nehru Park, one in Kachari Ghat, one in Mahavir Park, one in Gandhi Mandap, one in DC office, one in Regional Science Centre, one in Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute and one in Gorchuk.