Heatwave: Defunct water ATMs in Bhubaneswar add to summer woes 

Almost all the water ATMs installed at different locations by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) spending crores of rupees are lying defunct, resulting in difficulties for pedestrians and cyclists. 

These days the sweltering heat wave is sweeping across the State. Bhubaneswar is no different. Here in the capital city, the civic body’s arrangements to provide water to pedestrians and cyclists are not up to the mark. 

Spending Rs 10 lakh each, the BMC had installed 40 water ATMs at different locations in the city. But ironically enough, they are no longer dispensing water. Such ATMS are at several locations including Kalpana Sqaure, Rajmahal Sqaure, in front of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalay and Keshari talkies. 

People are often seen running to these ATMs to quench their thirst only to find them out of order. 

“Initially, these machines performed well. But now, they are lying defunct. It seems nobody is serious about it. People are dropping coins. Their coins get stuck but the machine fails to dispense water,” said Gangadhara Sahu, a pedestrian. 

Seconding him, another pedestrian, Sibaprasad Mohanty said, “These machines performed well during the first month of installation. Now they are out of order. As the mercury keeps soaring, we are having problems in quenching our thirst.”

On the other hand, the BMC claims it is not aware of the fact that the water ATMs aren’t functioning. Keeping the soaring temperature in view, the civic body has set up water kiosks (Jala Chhatra), but without making any budgetary allocations. So they are also sometimes found going dry.  

“If you go on the stretches from Rupali Square to Rajmahal and Acharya Vihar to Assembly, you will find empty pots at all the kiosks,” alleged Jeevan Rout, a BJP corporator. 

On the other hand, BJD corporator Manasirani Sundaray said, “All the 40 water ATMs are working well. If you find any machine lying out of order, inform us we will immediately get them repaired.”

Notably, the water ATMs managed by WATCO are functioning and the rest are lying defunct.