Gurugram, June 15 -- Launched in 2018 to provide clean drinking water at subsidised rates, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG)'s 29 Smart Water ATMs have largely fallen into disrepair, with most units lying defunct across the city. Strategically located in markets and high-footfall areas, the water ATMs were installed to provide safe drinking water at Rs.2 for 250 ml, Rs.3 for 1 litre, and Rs.10 for 20 litres. Units at Sectors 14, 31, 46, 47 and 56 and Hero Honda Chowk have remained non-functional, with no water supply available. Savita Devi, a resident of Sector 46, said the water ATM in her area has never been operational since installation. "From what I can remember, the unit has been lying defunct, defeating the very purpose of the initiative. At times, it feels as though they were installed more for displaying advertisements than for serving the public," she alleged. The water ATM near Hero Honda Chowk, located almost a kilometre from the MCG office, has also remained defunct. At the Sector 31 market, a unit installed nearly four years ago has reportedly never functioned. "Not even a single drop has ever come out of the machine. It is gathering dust," said BS Yadav, RWA president of Sector 31. Responding to concerns, Anju Bala, sub-divisional officer (SDO) at MCG, acknowledged that technical issues, including faults in water metres and other operational components, "occasionally affect the functioning of the units." She said: "There are instances when the water metres develop technical problems, which can disrupt the supply of water from the ATMs. We will get the affected units inspected and ensure that necessary repairs are carried out at the earliest."...