Drone cams for clean city

KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has decided to use drone cameras to catch those who dump wastes at public places and take legal action against them.

“Under the Smart City Mission, we have acquired one drone as of now, which we will use at different locations. This will help us in knowing the spots when and where regular dumping activities occur. We will act as per the findings of the drone,” said Ramdas Kokre, deputy commissioner, KDMC.

The KDMC has plans to go free of garbage bins in the coming days. However, wherever there are garbage bins, wastes are not dumped into them but are found lying on the road.

“We don’t want the roads to look dirty, even if the bins are empty people don’t dump into them. They simply throw waste in such a way that it lands up on the road. This won’t be allowed and we will keep a watch on such people through the drone,” added Kokre.

In Kalyan-Dombivli, there are several spots including nullahs where waste is dumped openly. As per the KDMC, this activity of dumping happens during the night. The civic body will decide the locations and then start checking the areas through the drone cameras during evening and night hours. Once a person is found dumping waste, the civic body will trace that person and take necessary legal action.

However, citizens from Kalyan claimed that the drone watch will not bring any major difference while some others suggested having CCTV cameras installed at such spots.

“A watch through one drone will not make a major difference as it won’t reach out to all such spots in the city. Instead of this, the civic body should install CCTV everywhere and also clean up marshals should roam around to find such people dumping waste. The drone won’t make a major difference,” said Suhar Naik, 39, a resident.

Drone (inset) will look for those dumping waste in the open.