In order to curb manual scavenging completely from the national Capital, the Social Welfare department of the Delhi Government is planning to induct ‘robotic method’ to clean the sewers and septic tanks. The Social Welfare department is also planning to adopt the system of ‘Bandicoot-a semi-automatic robot system’, used in parts of southern Indian states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Minister of Social Welfare Department, Rajendra Pal Gautam on Thursday conducted a meeting in this regard with the experts from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi Technological University (DTU), Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSIT), Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), and Northern Railways and with the civic bodies.
“The Government has already taken up various efforts to stop the inhuman practice of manual scavenging, and would soon introduce fully mechanize system to clean the sewage system and septic tanks, still there is a need of robotic solutions for smaller lanes and by lanes where machines cannot go,” said Gautam.
The Minister further added that, “Recently, in Kerala a Robot named Bandicoot has been developed by Genrobotics, Thriuvananthapuram. The Bandicoot is a semi-automatic robot developed which only requires a human operator to stand on the street near the manhole.
The machine with its many cameras, a robotic arm with 360 degree mobility, and a handy bucket to collect the waste does the rest. The operator is only needed for navigation when the manhole is of non-standard size or there are multiple sewer lines below.”
Officials further added that the Bandicoot has been commissioned by municipal bodies in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, where they have also trained 80 manual scavengers to operate the bots in a bid to offset the loss of livelihood.
The experts from various institutions suggested the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to find out suitable robotic system suitable or the conditions of Delhi. It also suggested the system should have censors, helpline number on the sewer. These censors are required to place in the sewer/septic tank so that the status of toxic gases in the manhole may be recorded prior to opening to the manhole.