Canal burst hits water supply

Water supply to several areas in Pune cantonment, Wanowrie, Solapur Road, Hadapsar and Kondhwa was totally affected in the evening. Water supply to these areas is likely to restored by Monday morning, PMC deputy engineer V G Dhadphale said.

A large discharge of water exceeding the capacity of the canal since last 40 days caused the breach. The increased discharge has been due to the rising demand for water supply for agriculture and drinking purposes. Presently the water discharge through the canal was 1252 cusecs as against its capacity of 1000 cusecs. Water supply to the city areas is being made through the main canal as the baby canal has been closed for the works of closed pipe water supply scheme. The trial for a maximum discharge of 1300 cusecs of water through the main canal had been made only once. The water gushed in the Nagzari stream below the canal. Water to the Cantonment water supply station, Daund city and for agricultural purposes is made through the canal.

Executive engineer of the irrigation department Ashok Kore, deputy engineer Y D More, Subhash Phalke, deputy engineer V G Dhadphale of the Pune Municipal Corporation and local corporator Ramesh Khanna rushed to the site.

Repair works to the canal were undertaken immediately after the discharge of water was reduced from 1252 cusecs to 350 cusecs. The water-level in the canal was reduced from 10 feet to 6 feet. A temporary barrier along the breached region of the canal was made by stacking gunny sacks containing sand. Work of construction of a temporary wall was also undertaken. The work will be completed in the next four to five days, Kore said.