By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 25: In an innovate idea which can certainly change the fate of the Umiam Lake which is facing an onslaught of waste, the government is now trying an innovative approach to clean the accumulated waste on the surface of the lake using AI-integrated robotic boats.
A first-of-its-kind demonstration was held on Friday based on collaboration between the state government, the Smart Village Movement in alliance with UC Berkeley, and the Hong-based technology partner of SVM, Clearbot.
It aims to set a new standard in environmental conservation and technological advancement.
The demonstration of the potential of AI-driven aquatic technology in addressing environmental challenges kicked off at Kyndong Rella in the Mawdun area of Umiam Lake.
The week-long pilot demonstration will focus on using AI-powered robotic boats to clean the lake, known for its picturesque beauty, but grappling with waste accumulation and environmental degradation.
This initiative is an endeavour to harness cutting-edge technology to restore and maintain the pristine beauty of the lake while setting a precedent for sustainable waste management practices.
The AI-powered marine boats offer an effective solution to combat water pollution by identifying and targeting pollution hotspots, providing real-time monitoring and adaptable strategies and these machines can collect 200 kg of waste in four hours of operation.
Tulenam, Fellow at UC Berkeley and Director of Operations for the SVM initiative in Meghalaya, said, “This technology was first tested in Bali, Indonesia for tourism use. We are using them in Meghalaya today to solve waste collection in a famous touristic site as well. Such models will create standard processes to handle waste in a timely manner making operations more efficient than conventional ones. These technologies must be leveraged to a great extent to address the growing menace of waste and help scale such models them to similar locations.”
Siddhant, founder of Clearbot, said, “At Clearbot, we are excited to join forces with the Smart Village Movement to revitalise local waterways in Meghalaya. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to innovative solutions for environmental rejuvenation. Through this pilot, we aim to demonstrate how technology-driven clean-up initiatives can contribute to holistic rural development, aligning with the Movement’s vision for a sustainable future.”
Ramkumar, Nodal Officer of Smart Village Movement expressed enthusiasm about the demonstration. “We were excited to see this pilot taking shape and witness a milestone in waste management. This initiative aligns with our commitment to foster a cleaner and more sustainable environment through technology-driven solutions,” he said.
A local fisherman remarked that a lot of catchment areas of waste in water bodies are sites that can be difficult to reach and most of the time there is no regular way for authorities to manage it. On top of that, issues like rainfall, absence of waste collection compounds the problem in such areas.
“With the capacity to gather as much as 15 litres of oil and 200 kilograms of floating refuse daily, these models need to be explored in our state,” said Pynshai Marpna, project lead for the demonstration.