Kochi: The Navy has launched an eco-friendly water garbage scooper (WGS) to collect floating garbage such as plastic from water bodies at the Kochi Naval Base on Friday as part of its ongoing efforts towards environmental protection.
The WGS has been designed and manufactured by the navy using items available at the Naval Ship Repair Yard of SNC.
It consists of a floating platform with a scooper, which can be propelled over the water surface to collect floating garbage such as plastic bottles and thermocol. The scooper dumps the garbage into a collection tray, which can be subsequently emptied on shore.
The WGS is a zero emission platform, and has been equipped with all the basic controls such as paddle wheel and rudder to manoeuvre in shallow waters and narrow channels. The operator sits atop a modified bicycle seat, controls the paddlewheel through a pedal and chain mechanism and the steering using the bicycle handle.
“A number of trials were carried out to establish its proper functioning and safe operation, before it was formally commissioned,” a navy officer said. “This platform would further enhance clean up drive of the Venduruthy channel which was launched by the Navy in June.”
A demonstration of the platform was held at the naval base on Friday in the presence of Vice- Admiral A.K. Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command and other naval personnel.
