Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation has planned to introduce, for the first time, a ‘robotic system’ to identify water contamination, detect leaks and damage to pipelines. These robots, equipped with cameras, could go below the ground up to a depth rating of 3 metres and cover a distance of 300 metres, officials said, adding the technology was recently experimented at Kasba Peth.
Explaining the operation, an official said the robot is dropped inside the pipeline after digging a hole. The camera fitted to it can rotate 360 degrees and capture photos as well as videos. The robot is operated from above the ground by remote control. The machine resembles a pipeline of around one inch in diameter and is approximately two feet wide, the official said.
Such a system is already used by the Sangli Miraj-Kupwad Corporation (SMKC). “Our experience with the system was good. We could detect pipeline damage and also identify illegal water connections using these robots,” Shubham Gupta, SMKC commissioner, told TOI.
According to PMC officials, this method is a time- and cost-saving option. “We are still using it on an experimental basis. It can be put to test in areas with old pipelines,” Nandkishor Jagtap, head of PMC’s water supply department, said.
