Any time water vends in Hyderabad

Citizens can get cool and hygienic drinking water for Re 1

Hyderabad: To quench the thirst of citizens, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has decided to provide a litre of cool and hygienic drinking water for Re 1 by installing any time water (ATW) machines in at least 1,500 locations in the city in the phase I.

The idea for such vending machines was made by the water board at a review meeting chaired by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K Taraka Rama Rao on Friday. The MA&UD Minister reacted positively on the proposal and asked the officials to set up the machines within a week, according to a senior water board official.

Citizens can drop one rupee coin and draw a litre of cold water from the machine. Explaining the project, HMWS&SB Managing Director B Janardhan Reddy told The Hans India that water board would collaborate with private firms and non-government organisations for this project.

The HMWS&SB would supply water free of cost to the private firms and NGOs, whoever would take up the project. They would charge nominal Re 1 for a litre of water. The organisations can generate revenue by allowing the space on ATW machines for advertising. Maintenance costs would be borne by the private firms. “The water board is negotiating with the private firms and NGOs for taking up the project,” said Janardhan Reddy.