ANJALI YADAV/ Dehradun
The Smart City water ATMs, installed at key public locations in Dehradun to provide affordable drinking water, are now facing operational issues, with several units found unattended or non-functional even as the temperatures hover near 36 degrees across the city.
A ground visit by The Pioneer near the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) building highlighted the gaps in service. The water ATM at the site has remained unattended in the absence of the operator, according to the people present there. A street vendor said, “People come for water, but return without water.”
Komal Singh, who had come to the site to collect drinking water, returned without using the machine due to the absence of the operator. The operator, Sunali, later arrived upon being contacted by a vendor and cited personal reasons for the delay. However, during a subsequent visit, she was again found away from the unit while another person waited at the ATM.
A similar situation was observed at Dehradun Railway Station, where another water ATM was found non-functional despite heavy public footfall in the area. Residents and commuters said that the facility is often found non-functioning during the peak afternoon hours when demand for drinking water is the highest.
People raise questions over their monitoring and maintenance under the Smart City initiative. “Things are indeed pitiable. Our need for public drinking water points increases during the summer months,” said a homemaker.
The additional chief executive officer (ACEO) of Smart City Dehradun, Tirth Pal said that he would check things and action would be taken. “The closed ones will be reopened soon,” he assured.
