Chennai: 50 drinking water vending machines will be inaugurated today

Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin will inaugurate 50 water vending machines in the city on June 18. The inauguration will take place near the Marina swimming pool. These machines, provided by the Metro Water Department, will provide free drinking water 24/7, benefiting people from low-income families. Last month, the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) began installing water ATMs at various locations across the city. These machines will be installed at 2-6 locations in each designated area. Each location, including beaches, parks, temples, bus depots, terminals and markets, has been identified by the corporation.
The machines are connected to a water tank and the purification machine has a CCTV camera for monitoring. Users will have the option to draw water in two quantities: 150 ml and 1 litre. Each tank will be connected to the Metro Water pipelines, ensuring a constant flow of water throughout the day. “This is a commendable initiative by the state government, but proper monitoring and maintenance is necessary for its sustainability,” said S Rajesh, a resident of Triplicane. “A similar initiative called Amma Kudineer was launched by late CM Jayalalithaa in 2016 but was discontinued due to official apathy.”