Kathmandu, March 9 -- City planners and the public have appreciated Lalitpur Metropolitan City's most recent move of installing a 'Water ATM' or 'Pani Padhero' to provide the public easy access to safe drinking water. They, however, said such a service should be free of cost, as water is a basic need and a free resource.

The metropolis, in coordination with the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board, installed the first water booth at Pulchowk, Lalitpur, on Tuesday with an investment of around Rs1 million.

Anyone walking through the road section can drink 200 ml water in a paper glass by inserting a two rupee coin in the machine. Those wanting to fill a one-litre bottle need to pay Rs10. Urban planner and former secretary Kishor...