Trichy corpn to procure super sucker machine to clear UGD

TRICHY: Hit by frequent snags in the underground drainage (UGD) network,

Trichy Corporation

has decided to increase the number of vehicles and machinery to streamline the sewage network covering 31% of the city area. The civic body has sanctioned 56.5 lakh to buy a super sucker vacuum truck under the

Amrut

scheme to clear the

UGD

. The vehicle is expected to join the local body in a month.

The civic body recently inspected a similar machinery with the

Greater Chennai Corporation

. The vehicle will have high efficiency in clearing the blockages in the pipelines. The vehicle with a 10,000-litre capacity tank and suction equipment can be mobilised to areas from where complaints are received. The procurement of the vehicle is anticipated to regulate wastewater flow within a few hours. “The super sucker machine will eliminate the need to cut the roads and remove the blocked pipelines for clearing the obstructions in areas such as bus stands, hotels and hospitals. The truck will use a vacuum to clear the clogs irrespective of their severity,” a senior engineer with the corporation said.

The local body is also set to purchase two more truck-mounted jet-rodding machines in addition to the existing four through the 15th central financial commission funds.

With about 50% of the population dependent on the UGD network, the civic body in 2019 had proposed to procure robotic arms to clean manholes. However, citing difficulties in cleaning the horizontal pipelines, corporation has dropped the move. “Instead of buying robotic arms, we may purchase another super sucker machine,” the official added.