The Maharashtra government has decided to reduce the minimum service duration for sanitation workers under a programme aimed at transitioning sewer hole cleaning to a mechanised mode, to 20 years from the existing 25-year norm.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday chaired a meeting to review issues concerning sanitation workers. He instructed Urban Development Department officials to tweak the minimum service criterion, an official release stated.

The ‘Manhole to Machinehole’ programme promotes mechanised cleaning of sewers, septic tanks, and drainage lines through the procurement of modern vehicles, robotic units, and sanitation tools. The initiative aims to reduce the human interface in sewer cleaning, and manpower will be used only for supervisory work.