BMP deploys new machine to clear clogged culverts

BMP deploys new machine to clear clogged culverts

The Hindu

The heavy duty machine has been hired from the Delhi Jal Board

# Flooding is caused as some of the culverts have not been cleared for years, say officials
# The machine works on the principle of washing machines
# The BMP cleared culverts at Kino Talkies near Seshadripuram and Gandhinagar

Bangalore: Over the past few weeks, Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has announced several steps to combat the havoc that rains could cause. Setting up of additional control rooms, clearing encroachments along storm water drains and repairing retention walls are some of the steps taken by the civic body.

The BMP has now hired a machine — Kam Avida Heavy Duty Sucking Machine — from the Delhi Jal Board to clear blockages in storm water drains. Costing Rs. 7 lakh (which adds up to Rs. 17,000 a month), the machine can clear silt that blocks the culverts and other areas of low clearance in storm water drains.

A culvert is a tunnel, about two feet long, which carries an open drain under a road or a railway line. "These points are very difficult to clear as our men find it hard to get down there. Besides, they are located on roads that have heavy traffic flow," said S. Mruthyunjaya, Superintendent Engineer (Storm Water Drains project). Some of the points had not been cleared in several years and that was the main reason for flooding of roads, he said.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) previously used KAM-D but it could clear only blockages in culverts up to three to six inches, Mr. Mruthyunjaya said.

The heavy-duty machine that the BMP is using now works on the principle of washing machines.

Water at high pressure is directed at the silt from a nine-inch pipe and a "sucker" sucks the waste material and transfers it to the lorry tank standing nearby.

The BMP had cleared culverts at Kino Talkies near Seshadripuram and Gandhinagar. "We tried it at Central Silk Board too but we were unable to clear it as there was too much water gushing forth.

The stones accumulated there still remain," said Mr. Mruthyunjaya.

On Saturday, the BMP cleared culverts at Mysore Road and Ambedkar slum colony.

So does the BMP plan to buy the machine sometime soon? BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj said: "The machine is working very well, especially at areas with low clearance. But for now, we do not have any plans to buy the machine."