Pune, 24 March 2026: The irrigation department, along with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials, on Monday temporarily sealed a breach in the Mutha canal near Hadapsar Industrial Estate after stopping water release into the canal.
According to officials, full repair and strengthening of the affected stretch will take three to four days. "Three to four days would be required to carry out complete repairs and strengthen the impacted stretch," said Kiran Deshmukh, executive engineer of the state irrigation department.
The breach occurred around 3am when water was being released into the canal at a rate of 1,100 cusecs for rural areas. Authorities have halted the release, which will resume only after repair work is completed.
Explaining the possible cause, Deshmukh said, "The canal was constructed in 1965. There is an underpass beneath it. The bank spot might have weakened over time and gradual seepage could have led to the breach."
He added, "There was a soil embankment where the breach was reported. Prima facie the breach developed from below. Our teams are checking if any drainage or other lines near the wall resulted in its weakening."
Meanwhile, Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure has directed civic officials to conduct a detailed audit of the entire canal stretch passing through the city in coordination with the irrigation department. "The audit should be conducted of the canal wall, its seepages and leakages, and encroachments," she said.
Despite the incident, PMC’s water supply department confirmed that drinking water supply in Hadapsar and other parts of Pune remains unaffected, as these areas are not dependent on the canal for water supply.
