Beltangady: During dry season this year, the people across the district face acute drinking water crisis. In a bid to get pot full of drinking water everyone, irrespective of their ability ended up becoming prey to water suppliers who swindled money by charging exorbitantly for water.

                                                                    Coin box water booth at Nala

However, in a rare initiative that is shaping up, anybody can have clean drinking water paying just one rupee.

With the Zilla Panchayat gearing up to start kiosks or booths for dispensation of water, 10 ltrs of water can be taken away paying just one rupee coin.

As first phase, this has been taken up in 13 villages in Belthangady taluk by Zilla Panchayat.

One such booth has already come up at a place called Nala and as per sources each booth would cost about Rs 8.50 lac.

However, no machinery for the purification and dispensation of water has been set up.

In first phase units will be opened in 13 places of Beltangady taluk. Sulkeri in Aladangady, Nelyadka in Arasinamakki, Mairothadka in Bandaru, Kanyadi in Dharmasthala , Nala in Kaliya, Goliangady in Kukkedi, Maddadka in Kuvvettu, Madanthyar, Kajoor in Mithabagilu, Dompadapalke in Nada, Payyodigudde in Padangadi, Venoor are the places where these units will be installed.

This programme is expected to be implemented by the beginning of next year.