BVM to compete in Centre’s tech challenge

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 9

The Central Government’s “Technology Challenge”, contest which aims for innovative technology-driven solutions for cleaning of sewers and septic tanks has received a positive start.

Students of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Udham Singh Nagar, through its Atal Tinkering Lab, have made a prototype of robotic machine that can be sent into sewers for cleaning and removing blockages.

Termed “Smart Sewage Shooter”, the machine is water-proof and can be controlled entirely from outside. The machine is equipped with a cutter, cameras and lights. A variety of ‘changeable cutters’ with varying strength as well as diameter can be fitted.

The cutter attached with a motor also churns sewage to clear the blockage. Moreover, the machine can release chemicals, including sodium formalin, chloroform to dilute sewage and clear blockage.

Bhartiya Vidya Mandir principal Bandana Sethi said, “Students and teachers brainstormed to solve this major issue. In this technology driven world, humans entering blocked sewer is unacceptable.” She said the school will send its entry for the contest.

Prof Arvind Dhingra, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College said the college will participate in this contest and a team of students will soon start working on it.

Rohit, a teacher said it is time for all institutions to come up with innovative solutions to help solve this issue. It is inhuman treatment to workers who enter sewers filled with dangerous gases and atrocious filth.

The contest has been launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and has invited proposals from “innovators, individuals, consortium partners, companies, academic institutions, research and development centres, municipal bodies, NGO’s to eliminate the need for human entry into sewerage systems and septic tanks.

The entries can be submitted by August 14. The cash prize for both categories “cleaning of sewerage systems” as well as “cleaning of septic tanks” is five lakh for first rank, two lakh for second position and one lakh for third rank, respectively.