AMC boss Vijay Nehra wants trenchless technology to repair old lines

GNN | Aug 23, 2018, 3:58 PM IST|

• Nehra lines up a number of initiatives to check cave-ins
• Outlets for release of gases to be installed

Ahmedabad, Aug 23. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Vijay Nehra has called for bringing in the ultramodern trenchless technology to replace and repair drainage lines. This and several other steps are being planned by AMC to check the rising incidence of cave-ins.
GNN learns, Nehra while discussing plans to replace old lines told reporters on Tuesday (August 21) that not only will work proceed at a fast pace under the new technology but trenchless technology also drastically slashes social costs and environmental impact. It also provides economic alternatives to traditional open-cut methods of repair, renewal or installation. Trenchless or no-dig technology is a method of installing, renewing, and repairing underground pipes, cables, and ducts with techniques that do away with the need for physical excavation.
Rehabilitation of old lines will be taken up this year with the AMC selecting 9km of lines to work on. But the overall AMC target is nearly 27km. Nehra said cave-ins had to be minimised as cave-ins do not only lead to lot of trauma but can also prove fatal. The civic boss said the needed attention was not paid in repairing old lines in the past.
Sometimes the desilting carried out by AMC also results in leakages. Once the ongoing desilting is completed, a camera will be moved inside the lines to check for leakages. If any punctures or holes are found, they will be immediately plugged using trenchless technology, Nehra said.
Another important step being taken by the AMC is installation of outlets which will release gases which form in the pipelines. The outlets will release the gases saving the lines from deadly corrosion. Secondly companies – electric, telephone, mobile and oil and gas wanting to lay cables will be allowed to do so only under strict AMC supervision. If a cave-in is reported from that particular area, the agency or the company laying the cable will be responsible and the AMC will recover the cost of repairs from the company.