Badnore flags off e-water ATM vans

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 20

Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore launched the smart public drinking water system in Chandigarh with the flagging off e-water ATM vans at the Punjab Raj Bhawan here today.

MP Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor, Mayor Arun Sood and Municipal Corporation Commissioner B Purushartha were also present during the flagging off ceremony.

The project is aimed at providing pure and affordable water at bus stops, hospitals, court complex, tourist places, railway station and market places.

During the ceremony, the Governor lauded the initiative and said the city needs such kind of technology to help in reducing the carbon footprint effectively by discouraging the consumption of use and throw plastic bottles, plastic pouches and plastic glasses.

Under the system, water will be served in a complete automated system monitoring all safety and standards of drinking water without using plastic.

While sharing information about the features of e-water ATM, Mayor Arun Sood said water would be served in bio-degradable paper glasses at the rate of Rs 2, (250 ml) and Rs 5 for (1 litre) without container at all major locations in Chandigarh. The project will start with 7 locations. In the first phase, a total of 22 machines will be deployed in the area of Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh.

Commissioner B Purushartha said Chandigarh had become the first city to adopt the smart water system.

He said this project was a reflection of the “Swachh Bharat Mission”. The machines have light emitting diode (LED) panels through which important information and messages from the MC can be displayed time to time.