Vadodara: L&T today said it has donated a robot to Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) to automate the cleaning and maintenance of sewer manholes and stop the practice of manual scavenging.

The Hydrocarbon arm of L&T donated this robot developed by Genrobotics to the VMC officials. The initiative is developed by LTHE (L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering) in collaboration with VMC and the Government of Gujarat.

It aims to put an end to manual scavenging and safeguard the lives of sanitation workers by mechanization of sewer cleaning operations. The technology powering the robot is the winner of AMRUT Tech Challenge Award as Promising Innovative Solution for Sanitation by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

This robot is able to clean one manhole in 30 to 45 minutes depending upon the waste and it can clean 8 to 10 manholes every day, as per a note from L & T. The robotic arm enters into the manhole and handles the cleaning operation and a control panel unit stays outside with the person controlling or monitoring the robot. Various sensors in the robot help to measure manhole dimensions, material and chemicals inside the manhole, humidity, temperature and so on. DeshGujarat