Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has introduced a cutting-edge application empowered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to oversee the distribution of water via tankers across the city.
This technological leap signifies a pivotal advancement in augmenting the efficiency and transparency of water supply management within Pune. PMC officials have unveiled that the newly deployed system, currently undergoing trial operations, has been installed at a prominent tanker point located in Padmavati. This innovative application furnishes real-time insights into the ingress and egress of tankers, alongside meticulously recording the volume of water dispensed by each tanker throughout Pune’s expanse.
On a daily basis, PMC orchestrates the dispatch of approximately 1,400 potable water tankers to cater to the populace, spanning both urban precincts and recently amalgamated villages. These tankers, procured from private vendors, are disbursed at zero cost, with PMC bearing the brunt of transportation expenditures. Additionally, around 300 private tankers avail themselves of water from designated PMC tanker points, at an established rate of ₹666 per tanker, subsequently vending it to citizens. Shrinivas Kandul, the head of PMC’s electrical department, underscored the initiative’s primary objective of mitigating the dearth of real-time monitoring capabilities at tanker points. Kandul further accentuated the transformative potential inherent in this technology to identify instances of water scarcity and anomalies within the tanker industry. The adoption of AI-driven solutions by PMC epitomises a concerted effort towards bolstering operational efficacy and fostering a culture of accountability in water distribution mechanisms across Pune’s landscape.
“We have deployed AI-based CCTV cameras on a trial basis at Padmavati Tanker Point. An application has been developed to enable real-time monitoring of water withdrawals from tanker points, providing insights into refill frequencies.” Nandkishor Jagtap, the head of PMC’s water supply department, said. He further mentioned, “This AI-powered application, coupled with existing GPS tracking systems, will enhance transparency in the water supply chain, ensuring accountability for all water distribution activities conducted by PMC.”
