PUNE: The state government has allotted Rs35 crore to the irrigation department to carry out repair work and plug seepages from the Mutha canal supplying water to the rural areas.
The irrigation department officials said the canal covers around 200km from Khadakwasla to Indapur. The water is released in the canal throughout the year in rotations. The canal requires repairs and strengthening at various locations, and the work is being planned in a phased manner. About 26km of the canal from Khadakwasla to Phursungi flows through the city.
An official from the state irrigation department said, "We have carried out repairs in the stretch flowing through the city. The repairs are proposed for the remaining stretch from Phursungi to Indapur. A survey has been taken up to locate the spots needing repairs."
Vikram Gaikwad, a city-based activist, said there is gross negligence towards canal maintenance leading to severe water loss.
Gaikwad said, "The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is always criticized for drawing additional water from dams, however, there is a need to conduct an audit of the status of the Mutha canal to check the amount of water wastage due to poor maintenance. There is also a need to keep a check on water theft from the canal."
He added, "It is essential to curb water losses, considering the increasing demand for water from rural and urban pockets."
Meanwhile, the state government is working on a proposal to construct an underground water tunnel from Khadakwasla to Phursungi to replace the existing canal. The irrigation department will submit a detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed plan to the state government in the next few months.
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