Water ATMs dysfunctional in Pune Cantt

PUNE: Within a short period after the installations of water ATMs in Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) areas, many of them have gone kaput. Residents complained that many of the water metres were not working. 

Although, once in a while technician comes and repairs it, but immediately after a few days, the ATMs do not function. Apparently, the board is not aware of the problem. 

Water ATMs installed at ward number 1 at JJ Garden, ward number 2 at Modi Khana, ward number 3 at Hind Tarun Mandal, ward number 4 at New Modi Khana, ward number 5 at Sholapur Road, ward number 6 at Wanawadi, ward number 7 at Ghorpadi Bazaar and ward number 8 at Tabbot Street.

Sakal Times did a ground survey by visiting all water ATMs in all eight wards of the Cantonment and found out that, all ATMs were dysfunctional. 

A fruit seller in ward number 2 Lalit Saroj, said, “The water ATM was installed at the end of  2016. In the summer of 2017, the ATM worked successfully, but later the ATM at Modi Khana stopped dispensing water. We had complained about it to the PCB, but no one really paid attention.”

Another vegetable seller in ward number 6 at Ghorpadi Bazaar, Vikram Shah, said, “After the water ATM was installed in the ward, it was used by the passers-by. But after the summer of 2017, the ATM stopped functioning and it is still not functioning.”

Similar claims were made by shopkeepers of other wards, stating that the water ATMs were only functional till 2017 and later it became dysfunctional. They also claimed that many times, they have complained about it to the PCB but there was no positive response from them.

Chief Executive Officer of PCB DN Yadav said he was not aware of the current situation.

“However, I have come to know that the contract with the agency which was doing the maintenance has ended and hence, there may be difficulties in maintaining the ATMs. Hence, the ATMs are dysfunctional,” Yadav added.

IN NUMBERS
- The estimated cost of per unit water ATM was around Rs 3 lakh, funded by PCB.
- For every one hour, 100 litres of water was being dispensed.
- It was free of cost