Pune: A city-based citizens’ group, Sajag Nagrik Manch, has flagged leaks in the Mutha canal, warning of water losses even as Pune faces water cuts due to low dam storage. The forum has demanded an urgent inspection and repair of the canal.Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch said the Mutha canal has been leaking at several locations. One such leakage is visible near the Parvati-Janata Vasahat area, from where the water flows towards Swargate. The wastage is unacceptable at a time when Pune is facing water cuts, he said, adding that the irrigation department is ignoring canal leakages even as it urges PMC to curb water consumption.Officials from the irrigation department said they are planning elaborate repairs. “Leakages in the canals at different locations have been repaired temporarily. It is impossible to plug the seepage if water is flowing in the canal at full capacity. The inspections will be held at more locations once the water flow in the canal stops,” an official said.The 100-km-long canal starts from Khadakwasla dam, flows across the city towards rural parts of the district. It has been flowing at a rate of 1,100 cusecs of water per day for the last month. The canal has developed seepages at several locations due to its ageing infrastructure. Sources said temporary repairs have failed to plug all leaks, with no proper assessment of the resulting water losses.The irrigation department plans to stop ongoing water release around mid-Nov. The survey is planned on a 40-km-long stretch that covers a distance of 24 km in the city. The remaining falls in the rural part of the district.Jeevan Shinde, a Janata Vasahat resident, said residents have been complaining about these leaks for the last several years. “Every year the irrigation department assures repairs, but no major repairs have been taken up so far,” Shinde said.
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