Shimla, Mar 8
Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that all the Water ATMs (15) set up under the Union Government flagship program AMRUT Mission are dry in the tourist destination and Municipal Council Kullu.
Replying to a query raised by Congress member of Assembly Kullu Sunder Thakur today Member said that the Government did not include the clause of maintaining these water ATMs. He said that there were 28 projects amounting to Rs. 66.08 Cr. executed under AMRUT Mission in Municipal Council Kullu. He said that 15 water ATMs were set up under the project. These ATMs were put in use and an income of Rs. 3,002/- was also generated. However, these ATMs are not in use after the imposition of COVID-19 lockdown. Efforts are being made to revive them and they would be made operational soon, added Bhardwaj.
The minister said that from now on the urban civic bodies would also include the clause of repair and maintenance in the new agreement so that the company installing these ATMs could look after them for the next five years.
Earlier raising the query Thakur said that most of these water ATMs were installed in prime locations and none of them are functional. He said that it was a sheer waste of public money as the government did not rope in the installing company to maintain them.