24 July 2023, Mumbai: The Delhi government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has initiated a plan to install 500 water ATMs across slums and densely populated areas in the city. These ATMs will dispense drinking water treated using the Reverse Osmosis (RO) process. The first phase of this project includes the installation of four water ATMs, with the aim of providing 20 litres of clean RO water per day, free of cost, to every individual through a specially provided card.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Inaugurates Water ATM in Khajan Basti, Announces Phase One
During his inspection of an RO plant and the inauguration of a water ATM in Khajan Basti, Mayapuri, Chief Minister Kejriwal emphasized the significance of this initiative. He highlighted that, traditionally, it is the affluent who have access to RO facilities in their homes, but with this new facility, the underprivileged families in Delhi will also have access to clean RO water.
Free RO Water for Every Individual with Specially Issued Cards
The strategically located water ATMs will cater to areas where laying pipelines is impractical, and water supply is currently facilitated through tankers. As part of the pilot project, four RO plants have already been set up, and the process of establishing a network of 500 water ATMs is currently underway.
The Khajan Basti plant boasts two tanks with a total capacity of 3,000 litres. The water undergoes rigorous treatment through RO and microfilters, followed by high-pressure pumping, ensuring its cleanliness and safety for consumption.
Strategic Placement of Water ATMs to Serve Areas Dependent on Tanker Supply
Delighted with the progress, Chief Minister Kejriwal tweeted about the unique experiment of Water ATMs, which aligns with their mission of providing clean water to every household in Delhi, especially in areas where water supply is reliant on tankers.
Successful Pilot Project Sets Up Four RO Plants, Prepares for 500 Water ATMs
Apart from Khajan Basti, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has operational RO plants in Shakurbasti, Kalkaji, and Jharoda. The project envisions the installation of 50 RO plants, each with a capacity of 30,000 litres, at various slum clusters. These RO plants will treat water drawn from tube wells.
Beneficiaries will receive RFID cards to access their daily quota of free water from the ATMs. Any water consumption exceeding the daily quota will be charged at a nominal rate of Rs 1.60 per 20 litres.
Water Minister Bharadwaj Stresses Importance of Water ATMs for Pipeline-Constrained Areas
Water Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who also serves as the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) vice-chairman, emphasized that many areas in Delhi are unable to have water pipelines due to legal constraints. In such areas, tube wells are employed to draw water, which will now be treated through RO plants and distributed free of cost to the residents.
The initiative has already provided around 2,500 cards to the residents of Khajan Basti, enabling them to access the benefits of clean RO water, promoting health and well-being in underprivileged communities.