India, June 8 -- In a bid to curb irregularities in pre-monsoon desilting works, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will deploy robotic technology from June 15 to inspect stormwater drains and chambers across the city. The move follows recurring complaints that contractors claim to have completed cleaning work on paper even as several areas continue to face waterlogging during the monsoon.

The decision follows a pilot project where robotic equipment was used to inspect 19 stormwater chambers. The technology enabled officials to assess the condition of the chambers in detail without requiring workers to enter them.

The civic body spends crores of rupees every year on cleaning stormwater drains and underground channels before the rainy ...