MUMBAI: To ensure no water-logging in the island city, the BMC will, in a first, deploy a robot to clean British-era underground drains, where mechanical end-to-end cleaning has proved unsuccessful in the past. The civic body will spend Rs 60 crore over a period of two years for the robot to be used from January 2019.As a part of its pre monsoon works, BMC takes up cleaning of drains across Mumbai from January to May every year to ensure smooth flow of rainwater. At the municipal commissioner's review meeting on Monday, a list of all drains that will be cleaned by robot was sought from the chief engineer of the BMC stormwater drain department. “We are identifying drains that need to be cleaned on priority and pre-monsoon work would begin from them,” said a official.Officials said they plan to have a remote-controlled robot, mounted with camera, that will remove silt from the drain and put it into a recyler machine. “On the monitor we will be able to see how much silt has been removed,” said a civic official adding that preparation for the works to be undertaken would start on December 15 while actual works on ground will start from January 1. An official said the BMC would not own the robot and that a contractor will procure and operate it. The BMC has issued work order for the project, the official added.Works would take place continually expect during the monsoon period.Cleaning of the British-era drains has perennially been a problem because they are underground and at many places run under buildings. The British era drains have a carrying-capacity of 25mm per hour. After the 2005 deluge, work on increasing the capacity of most drains was taken up. However, most of the island city area drains are underground and hence it is not possible to widen or deepen all of them.

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