KOCHI: The conventional method of cleaning drains in the city will soon be a thing of the past as the Kochi corporation has finally launched a machine to do the job. The corporation has bought a suction-cum-jetting machine with a capacity of 10,000 litres for the purpose.
The state-of-the-art device, launched by Industries Minister P Rajeeve, is being deployed for the first time in the state. An advantage of the machine is that it can clean up to 100 metres of drainage canal in one go. The machine can suck the sludge and sewage from the drain and clean it using the water extracted from the sludge. With the new machine, removing pavement tiles to clean the drains can be done away with.
The Chennai municipal corporation was the first to introduce the machine in South India. Kochi corporation secretary, irrigation department superintending engineer, and municipality executive engineer had visited Chennai to evaluate the operation of the device, which was helpful in preventing flooding in Chennai city.
On the basis of the team’s report, it was decided to buy the machine which costs around Rs 6.5 crore. The operation and maintenance of the machine will be carried out by the manufacturer itself.
Along with the new machine, the corporation also launched a robotic excavator for cleaning the drains. The robotic excavator can be used for removing silt from drains that don’t have road frontage.
Apart from these two machines, the corporation also launched Bandicut, a robot for cleaning manholes of the sewage line, the other day. The corporation is preparing to use the latest technology to prevent flooding in the city during the rainy season.