13 defunct Smart City water kiosks to be revived soon

T'puram: In a bid to address the worsening drinking water shortage in the capital, the city corporation and Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) initiated steps to revive 13 non-functional water kiosks installed under Smart City project.A meeting convened by SCTL on Wednesday decided to clear pending electricity bills and resolve issues related to water supply to the kiosks, many of which remained defunct due to inadequate flow from underground pipelines amid acute water scarcity. Of the 25 kiosks set up across the city in 2022, more than half are currently not operational. Envisioned as a flagship initiative to provide free purified drinking water at key public locations, the project has largely fallen short of expectations. The kiosks, located at busy spots such as Vazhuthacaud, near Public Library, in front of general hospital and close to SMV School, were meant to ensure easy access to safe drinking water for the public. However, several of these facilities stopped functioning within months of installation. Each kiosk was installed at an estimated cost of Rs 2 to 4 lakh, but only a few remain operational. The issue has become more pronounced as the city grapples with an intense summer, leaving many residents dependent on tanker lorries and erratic water distribution systems.An SCTL official said the situation was reviewed at the meeting and assured that corrective measures are under way. "All kiosks will be made operational soon," the official said. Corporation officials attributed the breakdown to a mix of technical glitches and maintenance lapses. They also pointed to coordination issues between implementing agencies and maintenance contractors as a key factor behind the lapses. State govt had earlier directed local bodies to ensure an adequate supply of drinking water during the summer months. However, the non-functional kiosks highlight a gap between planning and execution. However, urban planners and residents have criticized the underutilization of the infrastructure, noting that the lack of a proper maintenance mechanism has undermined the project's objectives.