Pune: The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) has confirmed that 90% of the repair work on Temghar Dam's leakage is complete, leaving the dam secure. The remaining work, which includes foundation treatment and grouting, is pending, primarily due to a lack of funding.

Leakage Repairs and Current Status

Temghar Dam, situated in Lavarde village of Mulshi Taluka, plays a critical role in supplying water to Pune city and irrigating over 1,000 hectares of farmland. The dam has a capacity of 3.71 billion cubic feet (TMC) and was completed in 2010. However, significant leakage was detected shortly after its completion.

In 2017, repair efforts commenced in three phases. The first two phases involved drilling holes at 90-degree angles into the dam’s walls and injecting a special mixture developed by CWPRS, comprising cement, silica, and fly ash. These efforts reduced the leakage rate from 2,147.73 liters per second to 250 liters per second.

The dam’s external repairs are nearly finished, but 30% of the inner cement lining work remains incomplete. The project has faced interruptions over the last three years due to fund shortages, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Remaining Work and Future Plans

CWPRS officials highlighted that the remaining work includes foundation treatment and grouting on the dam's inner side. Additional Director Dr. Prabhat Chandra assured that the dam is operational at full capacity during the monsoon season but emphasized the urgency of completing the remaining tasks.

Funding Challenges

Temghar Dam is one of four critical reservoirs in the Khadakwasla dam cluster, supplying water for drinking and irrigation in Pune district. During a canal advisory committee meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had assured immediate funding for the repairs. However, despite these assurances, funds have not yet been allocated, leaving the project in limbo.