The drinking water dispenser (ATM) project has turned out to be a failure in Shimla city. The three water dispensers…
Drinking water dispenser.
The drinking water dispenser (ATM) project has turned out to be a failure in Shimla city.
The three water dispensers placed at Bus Stand, Vikas Nagar and the Ridge in 2014 assured to provide clean water in the city, which has failed to provide clean and safe drinking water to locals and tourists over the years.
Official sources said around Rs Four Lakh were spent for installation of each water dispenser by Irrigation and Public Health Department and the Himachal Road Transport Corporation.
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Water was being provided by the Shimla Municipal Corporation and anyone interested in filling drinking water in the bottle had to shell out 50 paise for one litre.
A Tri-party agreement was done by the executing private company, but the scheme failed sometime later.
The water dispensers are lying unused as the ATM facility is not functioning and there is nobody to man them, much to the chagrin of locals and tourists, for whom it was a handy facility on the Mall.
Shimla MC Mayor, Kusum Sadret said the Corporation was aware of the problems being faced in the three dispensers installed earlier.
“We will try to sort it out. Either we will replace them or update them for use by people. Rather, we have planned 25 more new water dispensers in 25 new wards so that clean water is available to everyone,” Sadret told The Statesman.
She said the tender process has been followed and funds (Rs 2.5 lakh for each dispenser). The machine, as earlier, will dispense a litre of water for 50 paise.
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