Delhi launches first 'Water ATM' to provide clean water in water-scarce areas

Tags: Government Schemes

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently inaugurated the city's first 'Water ATM', which aims to provide clean water to areas lacking piped water supply.

An Overview of the News

• The 'Water ATM' initiative aims to reduce dependence on water tankers and ensure that underprivileged sections of society have access to the same quality of reverse osmosis (RO) water as more affluent areas.

• The Delhi government, through the Delhi Jal Board, plans to tackle water scarcity by setting up 500 RO plants with integrated 'water ATM machines' in areas facing water supply issues.

• Each of the 500 RO plants will have a capacity of 30,000 litres and will be strategically located depending on the availability of tubewells. The government will provide the necessary land, and the cost of ₹10 lakh per plant will be borne by the Delhi Jal Board.

• Beneficiaries of this initiative will receive RFID cards from DJB, which will give them access to a daily free water quota of 20 litres. Usage beyond this limit will attract a charge of 8 paise per litre.

• The initiative is led by Delhi's Water Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj and aims to ensure free and safe access to clean drinking water for residents of areas facing water scarcity.