Residents of Pynthorbah will no longer have to bear the brunt of water crisis as the first ever water ATM in the State was officially inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister R. C Laloo in the city on Wednesday. The project was an initiative of the South Asian Forum for Environment (SAFE), a civil society organization working towards sustainable development in the Indian eco region. Members of the community having 400 plus households shall be using gender friendly RFID Water ATM cards for secured supply of water, saving queue time and relieving drudgery. Residents have to pay only Rs 5 for ten litres of safe drinking water for the whole family. Speaking at the inauguration function, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said, “I’m pleased that we are popularizing the ATM usage of water drinking and this is also an ideal situation for the urban affairs department to study in the years to come.” Stating that it’s an interesting concept she said, “We will be keeping a close eyes on this project and definitely consider its replication in other parts of the city.” She observed that in order to sustain the project there is a need for community participation otherwise there is no guarantee that the project will last the test of time. “Company or agencies coming from outside the state should teach us regarding the good practices that have worked in the major cities so that even Shillong can manage its water resources,” she said. She also stressed on the need to find ways to make it simpler for residents of growing Shillong city to access clean and safe drinking water. “We now need to learn from this project and all other dorbars locate in the greater urban area of Shillong must look for an opportunity to implement similar projects in their respective dorbar areas,” she said. Local MLA and Health Minister AL Hek, said, “The one obstacle this project is facing is that till date we don’t have any dedicated pipe line for this project and without the perennial source of water this project cannot be sustained.” The Health Minister also requested the Deputy Chief Minister RC Laloo in-charge Public Health Engineering (PHE) to install a dedicated pipe line from the main source directly to the site of the project. “As of right now this project will only work if the PHE tank is overflowing and if it does not there will be no water to sustain the project and the people will be facing a lot of problems then,” he said. On the request made by Hek, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “I have spoken to him since he was sitting next to me that he can come to my room and discuss the matter and I will get it done.” The project was first initiated in Kolkata, second in Guwahati and finally now in Shillong.