Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar inaugurated the newly formed Blue Force and the Robotic Technology Deployment Programme in Bengaluru on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday inaugurated the newly formed Blue Force and the Robotic Technology Deployment Programme designed by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to detect illegal connections and water leakages.
Lauding the water board for adopting advanced robotic technology to detect illegal water connections, identify contamination, and ensure the supply of clean water, Mr. Shivakumar said this initiative would serve as a model for the entire country.
“The government is responsible for providing clean drinking water to the people of Bengaluru. The BWSSB is adopting new technologies to achieve this. As the only water utility in the country with BIS certification, the board has become a model for India,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
He directed officials to take strict action against anyone who has obtained unauthorised water connections irrespective of whether they are rich, poor, or business owners.
Mr. Shivakumar said, “The BWSSB must detect and rectify contamination quickly. Bengaluru residents should not have to depend on water cans.”
Calling the initiative first-of-its-kind in India, he highlighted that robotic technology enables quick detection of leakage sources without excessive road digging. The BWSSB demonstrated how the robotic AI system detects leakages inside pipelines and immediately sends the information to the BWSSB dashboard, enabling rapid action.
BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar said, “Our goal is to provide clean drinking water. We had to dig roads in multiple places earlier to trace contamination, and this technology eliminates that problem. The robotic system will scan pipelines, locate the exact issue, and roads will be dug only where repairs are needed. Issues can be resolved within 24 hours.”
He added that complaint resolution would become significantly faster and that illegal connections have been causing huge losses to the board. “With robotic technology and strict enforcement, we will identify all violations. This initiative aims to reduce Bengaluru’s 28% water loss caused by leakages and illegal connections,” he said.
Mr. Manohar further stated that 16 Blue Force units—one in each division, with three members per team—will begin operations this week. These teams will detect illegal connections, impose penalties where required, and regularise connections when necessary.
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