BHUBANESWAR: In view of summer heat, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has set up temporary ‘Jalachhatra’ kiosks across the city. It has also made arrangements to rush individuals falling sick due to heat to the Municipal Hospital. The BMC has set up around 100 kiosks across the city to provide drinking water during the summer. BMC has started the programme in association with the Auto Mahasangha and the All Odisha Roadside Vendors Association.
The kiosk managers have been given specific instructions that if anyone takes ill at their kiosk due to heat, they have to inform the BMC authorities. The BMC ambulance will immediately rush the person to the Municipal Hospital.
The kiosks have been set up at strategic places like Market Building, in front of Mahila Police station, near the Planetarium, IRC Village, Stewart School and in front of Red Cross. A few kiosks have even sitting space for the public.
“The kiosks will be open from 9 am to late afternoon,” said Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena. The BMC vehicle will provide water to the kiosks at any time in case the kiosks run short of water.
Jena, Deputy Mayor Bharti Singh along with AORVA president Pratap Sahoo and Auto Mahasangha president Subhash Singh inaugurated the Jalachhatra service in the presence of the corporators. On the inaugural day, all the kiosks provided buttermilk.