BWSSB a national model after adopting robotic leak-detection: D K Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday praised the BWSSB for adopting robotic technology to detect illegal water connections and ensure clean drinking water supply.

He inaugurated the newly formed 'Blue Force' and the Robotic Technology Deployment Programme designed to detect illegal connections and leakages.

"The government is responsible for providing clean drinking water to the people of Bengaluru. The BWSSB is adopting new technologies to achieve this. As the only water utility in the country with BIS certification, the board has become a model for India,” he said.

Shivakumar directed officials to take strict action against anyone with unauthorised water connections, regardless of whether they are rich, poor or business owners.

He added, “The BWSSB must detect and rectify contamination quickly. Bengaluru residents should not have to depend on water cans.”

The BWSSB demonstrated how the robotic AI system identifies leakages inside pipelines and sends real-time data to the BWSSB dashboard for rapid response. Shivakumar observed the demonstration and instructed the board to implement the system in field operations without delay.

BWSSB Chairman Ramprasath Manohar V said, “Our goal is to provide clean drinking water. We had to dig roads in multiple places earlier to trace contamination; this technology eliminates that problem. The robotic system will scan pipelines, locate the exact issue, and roads will be dug only where repairs are needed. Issues can be resolved within 24 hours.”

“With robotic technology and strict enforcement, we will identify all violations. This initiative aims to reduce Bengaluru’s 28% water loss caused by leakages and illegal connections,” he said.

He added that 16 Blue Force units, one in each division with three members per team, will begin operations this week to detect illegal connections, impose penalties and regularise connections where required.