PHE deparment aims to install 40 water ATMs before Pujas

Before setting up in the rural parts, the state Public Health Engineering department has decided to install 40 units of water ATMs in different parts of the city. One has already been installed near Ekdalia in South Kolkata. With an endeavor to provide safe drinking water to all at a bare minimum price, it has been decided to install the same at different parts of the state. But as pilot project it will be first set up in Kolkata and its adjoining areas.

Before, Puja it will come up in two places in Dum Dum, Victoria Memorial Hall, Indian Museum and near Nakhoda Masjid. The places include the 40 places where the water ATMS will be set up before the Puja. The locations have been identified based on the footfall.

An official of the PHE department said that the basic plan is to help as many as people possible. Thus, the locations have been selected accordingly. Hundreds of people visit Indian Museum and Victoria Memorial Hall from different parts of the country and abroad. Thus, besides the local people tourists can also avail the facility.

One just needs to put a Rs 2 coin into the machine and one will get a bottle containing 1 litre of cold safe drinking water. This is the first time when such an initiative has been taken by the state government. The water ATMs are available in only some of the states in the country. The introduction of the water ATMs will benefit the common people immensely. People need to spend around Rs 20 to get a packaged drinking water from market. They would get the same just at Rs 2.

Moreover, with prolonged summer, a bottle of safe and cold drinking water will bring relief to the pedestrians. People can quench their thirst when they will feel restless after walking under the scaorching heat of the sun, mainly when the mercury touches 40 degree Celsius.

It is learnt the state PHE department has plans to install 200 such water ATMs across the state and steps to identify the location would take place after the success of the project in Kolkata and its surrounding areas.