In order to stop the archaic practice of sending humans to clean sewers under manholes, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will soon deploy 37 high-tech machines as an alternative. There are 3.5 lakh manholes across Mumbai as per the BMC.
Although human deployment or scavenging is banned to a large extent, some manholes and sewers cannot be accessed by the machinery, forcing authorities to send workers instead. Several workers have died after inhaling the toxic gases within the sewer system.
Timely management of sewers becomes necessary considering the fact that Mumbai generates more than 2,800 million litres of sewage daily.
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“Humans enter only a few manholes to clear sewage. The BMC has started using machines for large scale cleaning. With the new machines, our target is to 100 per cent eliminate human intervention in cleaning sewer lines,” a BMC official was quote as saying by HT.
Around 24 new machines will be bought by the civic body that will allow the cleaning out of compact pipes or narrow lanes up to a diameter of 300 millimetres. Additionally, seven quick response machines will be purchased to clean up garbage in case of emergency calls for a choke up.
Lastly, the civic body will purchase three 600 mm high capacity main sewer cleaning machines and three machines for sludge and silt dewatering to clear out septic tanks. The purchase of these machines is reportedly going to cost ₹160 crores.
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The BMC has set aside a budget estimate of ₹275 crores for the widening and laying of new sewer lines across the city. Further, the civic body has also chosen to utilize ₹2,000 crores for the upgradation of existing STPs or sewage treatment plants.
Additionally, the BMC will reportedly require ₹15,000 crores for the upgradation and reconstruction of seven existing STPs including in regions like Bandra, Bhandup, Dharavi, Ghatkopar, Malad, Versova, and Worli. It is said that these STPs will come with the ability to treat up to 50 per cent of the sewage collected at the tertiary level. This can potentially be reused for non-potable requirements.
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