AI joins PESCO ranks to keep an eye on city's grime

Ludhiana: To ensure the speedy identification and redressal of civic complaints, artificial intelligence will now assist sanitation monitors in improving overall cleanliness and monitoring solid waste management (SWM) across urban local bodies (ULBs). Ex-servicemen, hired by the state government to address grievances, will utilise artificial intelligence (AI) technology to report issues such as potholed roads, poor sanitation, sewage blockages, and non-functional streetlights via the mSewa portal for resolution.On Wednesday, Swachhta monitors were provided with automatic devices to be installed in their vehicles. Previously, monitors were required to stop and manually photograph road issues before uploading them to the portal. This technological shift follows an agreement signed on April 25, 2025, between the Local Government Department, PMIDC, and the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO). Under this pact, 140 Swachhta monitors were deployed statewide to oversee sanitation and SWM activities under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. In the Ludhiana zone specifically, 19 monitors are currently operational.Enhanced Audit and AutomationThese monitors track a wide range of concerns, including the status of public toilets, urinals, and choked sewer systems. Deputy general manager Col (retd) GS Bachhal explained that their role involves raising these issues at the government level and performing follow-ups to ensure on-ground resolution. He noted that the integration of AI will significantly enhance monitoring speeds by automatically detecting problems and sharing geotagged locations with the connected system.Maheshwari Singh, community development officer for the Swachh Bharat Mission under PMIDC, highlighted the importance of this initiative, noting that the civic body faces staff shortages. He described the monitors as an efficient "third-party audit" providing crucial on-ground data. According to Singh, the attachment of digital cameras to the monitoring system will ensure more accurate complaint registration, ultimately guaranteeing better redressal for residents. The transition to AI-driven devices marks a move toward a more digital and responsive urban maintenance framework.