Amma Kudineer
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2013}}
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Amma Kudineer (meaning Mother drinking-water in Tamil language) is a mineral water production and distribution project run by the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of Tamil Nadu in India.
About the scheme
The project was formally launched on 15 September 2013 by the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa, on the 105th birth anniversary{{cite news|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Amma-Mineral-Water-cheapest-in-India/2013/09/16/article1786468.ece1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918044100/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Amma-Mineral-Water-cheapest-in-India/2013/09/16/article1786468.ece1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 September 2013 |title=Amma Mineral Water cheapest in India |publisher=The New Indian Express |access-date=2013-09-19}} of former chief minister of Tamil Nadu C. N. Annadurai.{{cite news|title=Jayalalithaa : A political career with sharp rises and steep falls|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Jayalalithaa-a-political-career-with-sharp-rises-and-steep-falls/article16760118.ece|access-date=6 December 2016|work=The Hindu|date=6 December 2016}}
The project involved production and packaging of mineral water in one litre plastic bottles, and selling them in long-distance running state-owned buses and in bus stations. The price was fixed at ₹10 per bottle. The project was intended to make purified water available to people of all strata, at a reasonable cost.{{cite news|title=Mother of welfare schemes|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Mother-of-welfare-schemes/article16761095.ece1|access-date=6 December 2016|work=The Hindu|date=6 December 2016}}
The Indian Railways had undertaken a similar scheme under the name "Rail neer",{{cite web|url=http://www.irctc.com/introrail_neer.html |title=Rail Neer |publisher=Irctc.com |access-date=2013-09-19}} with its one-litre bottles priced at ₹15, while private companies sell 1-litre bottles at higher prices.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/chennai/Jaya-launches-Amma-mineral-water--at-Rs-10-L/Article1-1122358.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918055839/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Chennai/Jaya-launches-Amma-mineral-water--at-Rs-10-L/Article1-1122358.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 September 2013 |title=Jaya launches Amma mineral water at Rs. 10/L|publisher=Hindustan Times | access-date=2013-09-16}}{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-15/chennai/42080312_1_amma-mineral-water-jayalalithaa-transport-minister |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130920190117/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-15/chennai/42080312_1_amma-mineral-water-jayalalithaa-transport-minister |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-09-20 |title=Jayalalithaa launches Amma mineral water |date=2013-09-15 |work=The Times of India |access-date=2013-09-19 }}
The scheme is run by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, with a production plant in Gummidipoondi in Thiruvallur district, on a 55-acre land that belongs to the Institute of Road Transport (IRT), a subsidiary of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation. The plant has the capacity to produce 3 lakh liters of purified water per day. The total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water was reported to be below 50 parts per million (ppm), as compared to a requirement of below 150 ppm in water from lakes and in rainwaters.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/taste-amma-mineral-water-at-rs-10-in-chennai/article5101642.ece?ref=relatedNews |work=The Hindu|title=Taste Amma mineral water at Rs. 10 in Chennai| access-date=2013-09-07}}
Amma water bottles were distributed to affected population during times of disaster, such as the 2018 kerala floods, 2015 chennai floods, and the gaja cyclone.{{Cite web |title='Amma' drinking water bottles for Kerala: Minister |url=http://www.hellojammu.news/2018/08/Amma--drinking-water-bottles-for-Kerala--Minister.html |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Hello Jammu News}}
As the scheme was a success, its sales was extended to all over tamil nadu.{{Cite news |author=Staff Reporter |date=2013-09-18 |title=Amma water proves a hit |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/amma-water-proves-a-hit/article5139001.ece |access-date=2022-03-14 |issn=0971-751X}} However, within several days, the demand for water bottles increased which lead to supply shortage at many places.{{Cite news |date=2015-10-05 |title=Amma water bottles in short supply |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/amma-water-bottles-in-short-supply/article7724752.ece |access-date=2022-03-14 |issn=0971-751X}}
Presently, the sales of Amma Water bottles have stopped due to a technical problem at the Gummidipoondi Factory. There are no plans by the government to repair this plant due to change in ruling power.{{Cite web |title=Sales stopped, fate of Amma water in limbo |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2021/nov/17/sales-stopped-fate-of-amma-water-in-limbo-2384541.html |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=The New Indian Express|date=17 November 2021 }}