Bengaluru: To stop leaks and clamp down on illegal water and underground drainage (UGD) connections, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is set to launch an ambitious initiative that combines robotics technology with human enforcement.
BWSSB chairman Ram Prasanth Manohar said the initiative involves two components robotics-based inspection and a ‘Green Force’ enforcement team. The robotics system will be used primarily to clean the CVA (central valve access) network and identify leaks in the city’s water pipelines. “To detect a leakage, we will send a robot inside the pipeline. It will scan and pinpoint the exact location of the fault, which will be monitored on the screen for immediate action,” he explained.
The robots toy car-sized machines fitted with cameras can travel up to 500 metres from the insertion point, scanning both sides of the pipe. They are designed to withstand water pressure and navigate narrow spaces. The technology includes AI-driven data analysis to study patterns of leakage and detect unusual water flow, helping BWSSB prioritise maintenance and identify illegal tapping points.
Manohar said the initiative was conceived in response to the rising number of illegal connections detected in recent months. “We’ve been conducting regular drives and imposing fines, but we wanted to try something new that could give us more accuracy and real-time insights. The robotics system will help us detect illegal connections and leakages more precisely, while the Green Force teams will ensure immediate enforcement on the ground.”
The tech has been developed by the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras and its linked startups. BWSSB is currently piloting three robots and plans to expand deployment once their efficiency is proven.
Acting on intelligence gathered through the robotic inspections, teams will be deployed to take immediate action. The BWSSB chairman said the move is aimed at strengthening enforcement and ensuring that illegal connections, which continue to drain the city’s water resources, are swiftly identified and cut off.
In a recent drive to trace illegal connections launched on Sept 3, BWSSB carried out an app-based exercise covering apartments, commercial buildings, and large complexes, using AI tools to analyse consumption and groundwater use. The drive led to penalties against over 300 apartments, the collection of Rs 100 crore in fines, and detection of around 6,000 unauthorised connections from 43,000 properties, with notices issued to 4,500 buildings across the city.
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