BWSSB to launch AI-powered ‘Blue Force’ to combat water leakage, illegal connections
Bengaluru (PTI): The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board is set to launch a new initiative called 'Blue Force', which will utilise robotic and AI-based technology to curb water leakage and crack down on illegal water and sewage connections across the city.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will inaugurate the programme on November 19, BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board said that as part of the initiative, BWSSB has formed 16 dedicated ‘Blue Force’ teams, one in each subdivision.
"These three-member teams will begin operations this week and will focus on identifying illegal connections, preventing bypass pipelines, and reducing revenue loss caused by unauthorised water use," it said.
According to the Board, to strengthen enforcement, it has partnered with a leading robotics company to deploy robotic and AI-based technology for detecting leakages and defects.
"The technology will pinpoint exact leakage locations, inspect internal pipelines, and digitally map the pipeline network. This is expected to significantly reduce unnecessary road cutting and speed up complaint resolution," it said in the statement.
The BWSSB noted that Bengaluru currently loses nearly 28 per cent of its water to leakage and illegal connections.
"The Blue Force, combined with robotic technology, aims to sharply reduce this loss and ensure fair distribution of water across the city," it added.
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TN seeks duty-free cotton imports to support textile sector: CM Vijay writes to PM
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove the import duty on cotton.
In his first letter to Modi after taking over as chief minister of the state, he said Tamil Nadu is the country’s largest textile and apparel exporting state.
Lakhs of people are dependent on this sector for both direct and indirect employment, especially women from rural and semi-urban backgrounds, Vijay pointed out.
Stating that the industry is facing a severe crisis due to an increase in cotton prices and consequently yarn prices, he said, “I understand this is caused primarily due to a shortage in cotton production and increased trading activity in the country.”
Pointing out that the price of cotton has increased from Rs 54,700 to Rs 67,700 per candy—an increase of 25 per cent over the last two months—while yarn prices have increased from Rs 301 to Rs 330 per kg, he said, “In this situation, the continued supply of raw material can be ensured only through imports.”
However, there is an import duty of 11 per cent on cotton, he said, adding that in such a situation, permitting duty-free cotton imports will help the industry meet increasing export commitments and remain globally competitive.
Vijay said that after agriculture, the textile and apparel sector is one of the largest employment-generating sectors.
“There is a significant responsibility on the government to safeguard the employment of lakhs of people and ensure the sustainability of the textile value chain," he said.
“Hence, I request your intervention to remove the import duty on cotton from the existing 11 per cent to 0 per cent to ensure the availability of raw material. This measure will enable the textile and apparel industry to remain globally competitive, enhance exports, and protect jobs,” he added.
