WATER ATMs IS WHITE ELEPHANT

WATER ATMs IS WHITE ELEPHANT

16-MAY-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------------The Water ATMs established at a cost of lakhs of rupees within the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat of this district have today fallen victim to neglect and administrative apathy. At one time, this scheme emerged as a beacon of hope for local residents, passersby, and villagers arriving from distant areas; however, today it remains merely a failed initiative confined solely to government files. In this period of scorching heat—when the general public is in dire need of water—these machines have turned into scrap, standing as a testament to their own wretched state.

Water ATMs were installed at various key locations across the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat with public interest in mind, aiming to make pure and cold drinking water accessible to the people. The government's objective behind these machines was clear: to ensure that poor and middle-class families would not have to rely on expensive bottled water available in the market. Unfortunately, due to a lack of proper planning and regular maintenance, this noble initiative is proving to be a complete failure.

When a ground-level assessment of the situation was recently conducted, the picture that emerged was extremely dismal. The Water ATM machines installed within the municipal office premises are gathering dust, while those located near Badi Mathiya lie in a state of total neglect. The dilapidated condition of these machines clearly indicates that, since their installation, no one has bothered to look after them. Due to a lack of maintenance, the machines have not only fallen into disrepair but, in several locations, have become completely defunct.

Moreover, the public remains entirely unaware that such a facility even exists within the town. To quench their thirst, residents are forced to purchase bottled water from the market at exorbitant prices. Local residents believe that had the administration installed these Water ATMs at appropriate and accessible locations—and ensured their timely repair—this scheme would have truly proven to be a boon for the people today.

The stark disparity between the claims made by the Nagar Panchayat administration and the actual reality has become even more evident amidst this scorching summer heat. The administration's claim regarding the establishment of public drinking water kiosks (*pyau*) across various locations has also proven to be hollow; most of these kiosks are either shut down or completely lack any water supply. The erroneous selection of installation sites stands as a prime example of the gross negligence demonstrated during the implementation of this scheme.