Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed to set up 20 permanent drinking water kiosks for the public this summer along with the temporary ones that are opened in the city every year.
The drinking water kiosks of BMC are usually managed by private associations or NGOs. Since those are seasonal, the decision to construct permanent kiosks was taken. This year, the kiosks will be opened from April 1. This facility will be provided at 20 locations across the city in the first phase.
At each location, there will be one outlet for cold and two for normal drinking water. “Each permanent kiosk will cost around Rs six lakh. We hope to complete 10 such kiosks by June,” said BMC Commissioner Sanjib Mishra.
BMC has also made it mandatory for the ‘Lassi’ stalls to provide free drinking water. It has been made a condition to avail licence to open a stall in the city.