Faster sewer cleaning on mind, Chandigarh MC turns to robots

Aiming to speed up the sewer cleaning process, the Chandigarh municipal corporation on Monday commissioned two Bandicoot sewer cleaning robots, costing ₹40 lakh each.

Till now, bigger suction machines were being used to clean sewers, but were difficult to operate in narrow lanes that the robots will be able to easily navigate.

De-silting grabbing and suction machines, sewer inspection cameras, power rodding machines and sewer root-cutting equipment have also been introduced.

The technology, costing ₹6 crore, has been brought in adhering to the guidelines of NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme, launched by the central government in 2022 to ensure safety of sanitation workers by eradicating unsafe sewer and septic-tank cleaning practices.

Mayor Anup Gupta flagged off the fleet of machinery from the MC office premises in Sector 17 on Monday. MC commissioner Anindita Mitra, deputy commissioner Vinay Partap Singh and other MC officials were also present.

Gupta , while sharing information about the machinery and its usage, said the cutting-edge machinery introduced by MC was poised to revolutionise the city’s sewer cleaning operations through incorporation of advanced technology and innovative features.

“The Bandicoot sewer cleaning robots’ drone unit, improvised with four spider-like legs to grip the sides of a manhole can grip and pull out waste. As a result there is no longer a need for people to physically enter the hazardous manholes. A Kerala-based start-up, Genrobotics, which developed Bandicoot and used it in their home state, has received contracts to supply Bandicoots to 18 other Indian states. The robots are also being exported to other nations, like Malaysia,” said the mayor .

“With its array of state-of-the-art equipment, this machinery is set to streamline and expedite the cleaning process, ensuring a more efficient and comprehensive outcome,” he added.

Commissioner Mitra underscored the significance of the NAMASTE scheme in fostering innovation and progress within the city.

“Since 2016, MC is only using machines to clean the sewer pipes and has stopped manual cleaning, as per mandate. But the existing suction machines were not advanced and it was difficult to take the machines in narrow lanes of erstwhile villages. New machines have various sizes and diameters and are much more speed-friendly,” she said.

“The introduction of the new sewer cleaning machinery under the NAMASTE scheme represents a significant milestone in city’s journey towards becoming a model city for sanitation and urban infrastructure. MC remains steadfast in its commitment to making Chandigarh the epitome of cleanliness and emerging as the leading city in the Swachh Survekshan-2023,” Mitra added.