Civic bodies to use drones to check progress of works

Guntur: The State government decided to introduce drones in the municipal corporations and municipalities in the State to monitor sanitation works, unauthorised constructions, drinking water pipelines, greenery in the city and side drains.

The officials would get information whether the sanitation workers are working in the field or not; whether the drinking water supply tanker reached a particular point or not. 

The officials would use drones to update Geographical Information System (GIS) for the World Bank Schemes. For this purpose, the government is going to sanction drones to all the municipal corporations and municipalities soon.

At present, the commissioners of the municipal corporation are personally inspecting sanitation, side drains, progress of road works, and development of greenery in the city. If a drone is pressed into service, it will send necessary videos to the corporation or the municipal commissioner. 

Following recommendations of the Municipal Administration department, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu already gave his nod to use drones. The police department is already using drones to know the traffic problems and to regulate traffic on the busy roads during the time of Assembly sessions. 

Director of Municipal Administration Kanna Babu has already announced that they would purchase drones soon. During the first phase, the Government would supply drones to the municipal corporations. Basing on the feedback all the municipalities in the State would also be given drones. 

It has been contemplated that a drone would be given to cover three or four municipalities since a municipality would use the drone twice or thrice a month. Hence, there is no need to purchase a drone for every municipality.

A senior official in the Directorate of Municipal Administration office on the condition of anonymity said, “We will use drones in all the municipal corporations and the municipalities soon to know condition of roads, sanitation, unauthorised constructions, side drains, traffic and greenery.

We would also know whether all the assessments in the corporation limits are paying the tax or not. The government has already given its nod to use drones.“

Guntur Municipal Commissioner Srikesh B Lathkar said, “Drone Corporation of AP is looking into the issue. The government has proposals to use drones in the municipal corporations."