Hyderabad: ATM Air, which was launched in the middle of many fanfare throughout the city five years ago, has gathered dust even though there are residents to revive them.
There are around 200 automatic water vending machines (AWVMS) which are now not useful because of the damaged pipes, stolen tumblers and a damaged coin slot.
Toi checked the ATM Air Kiosk in BS Mastha, Goshamahal in the old city, NTR Marg, Karmangphat, Sanathnagar and Yousufguda and found them dead.
GHMC officials said they were trying to fix problems and even approached the corporate company for CSR funds.
However, nothing was done to overcome this problem.
“With the summer approaching, the ATM Air will be a gift for people if only officials can fix it.
Can the same drinking water is commercially sold from Rs 30 to Rs 40.
We can fill our bottle for Rs 2 if AWVMS functions,” Rajdeep Varma, a resident of BS Maxha, told TI.
This initiative began in January 2017 with 114 ATM Air in collaboration with Josab International AB Sweden and NATURES SPRING ECO TAP Private Limited.
Within less than a year, all networks of ATM Air went kaput due to lack of maintenance and civil sense.
“ATM water goes down and the problem is raised with GHMC several times.
But, there isn’t much done to fix the problem.
Obviously, the GHMC does not pay attention before advancing with the initiative, especially when it comes to maintenance,” said a city-based social activist, to Ti.
Ironically, the ATM Air became a hit between the public that GHMC even planned to add 300 other kiosks throughout the city.
However, given the initiative failure, the corporation dropped the proposal.