Congress hits out at Delhi government’s water ATM plan

The Delhi Congress on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of failing to provide piped water to every household and criticised its plan to install water ATMs in areas without pipeline connectivity. 

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav said the proposal did not address the problem and was an attempt to divert attention from the government’s failure to expand the pipeline network. He demanded a time-bound expansion of the water pipeline network, a permanent water supply instead of temporary measures like tankers and water ATMs, and a public action plan with timelines for water-scarce areas. 

“Instead of providing a modern water supply system to the Capital, the BJP government is implementing a system that forces people to queue up to collect water. Grand promises were made ahead of the election to provide piped connections and clean drinking water to every household, yet the government itself now admits that many areas of Delhi still lack pipeline connectivity,” he said. 

Mr. Yadav said the proposed ₹58-crore expenditure on 250 water ATMs showed that the government had failed to provide a permanent solution. 

He said the money could instead have been used to expand the water pipeline network, plug leaks and strengthen the distribution system, which would have provided lasting relief to lakhs of people.