Satellite data, heat sensing, robots: Start-ups help 35 cities plug water network leaks, recharge borewells

Prof V Srinivas Chary, the director of the Centre for Urban Governance, Environment, Energy and Infrastructure Development at ASCI, told The Indian Express that the start-ups had begun their work on the ground, with some results being seen during this monsoon season. In addition, he said the second round of the challenge was completed recently and another 30 start-ups selected.

“These projects are now in the advanced stage of implementation,” Prof Chary said.

One of the start-ups, Aumsat Technologies, has come with a satellite-based leak management system for Udaipur. As per a written statement by ASCI, using satellite radar analysis at a 50-km stretch of water pipeline from Jaisamand Lake to Patel Circle, it has detected 47 leaks and the plugging will lead to saving of 36,984 gallons a month and Rs 80 lakh.

In drought-prone Latur, a start-up, Urdhvam, is using patented technology called “borecharger” to revive defunct and dry borewells. After sending a camera down the casing of the pipe, it uses a robotic arm to make perforations within the casing to allow percolation of water from different depths. According to ASCI, 300 low-yielding or dry borewells in Latur city have been recharged. These have a potential recharge of 20.6 crore litres a year.

In Delhi, Retas Enviro Solutions is working with the Delhi Jal Board to put up modular rainwater harvesting systems, including tanks made of recycled polypropylene as opposed to cement, ASCI said.

According to an official of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, one of the challenges was that cities find it difficult to induct new technologies as their tendering process requires the contractor to have prior experience, which many of the start-ups do not have.