The Times of India                20.05.2013

BMC to use new machines to clean drains, manholes

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation (BMC) will be using two new machines to clean storm water drains and manholes in the city before the monsoons.

The highlight of these machines is that they can separate water and silt that is removed from the drains and the water can be used to flush the drain to clean it further.

Bought at a price of Rs 6 crore, this suction jetting machine (recycler), will be useful at water logging spots, where there is a need to discharge water quickly.

The BMC is also planning to buy two more of these machines as so far they have proved to be very useful.

The machine initially runs on air pressure and sucks the silt in storm water drains. After sucking the silt, it can be run on water pressure, which is created by using the water derived from the silt.

The machine can clean the storm water drains without any manual help. It has several features, which are far superior than the traditional suction and jetting machines. The civic body presently has machines of lower capacity to clean storm water drains. These machines can be used to clean drains of only six metres and lower depth and suck solid objects of only up to 75 mm.

However, the new recycler machine can clean storm water drains of more than 10 metres deep and suck objects of up to 125 mm like the wet and dry silt, garbage and other construction materials, said a senior civic official from the storm water drain department.