HomeLatestPune Water Tunnel Project Faces Clearance Delay

Pune Water Tunnel Project Faces Clearance Delay

The ambitious Khadakwasla-Phursungi underground water tunnel project, designed to modernise Pune’s water distribution and conserve resources, remains in limbo due to pending environmental clearances.

Despite administrative approvals and completed tender processes, the project has yet to commence, raising concerns over water wastage and urban development delays. Approved by the Maharashtra cabinet in August 2024 with a budget of ₹2,190.78 crore, the 34-kilometre tunnel aims to replace the ageing New Mutha Right Bank Canal. This canal currently supplies irrigation and drinking water from the Khadakwasla chain project to Pune city and parts of Indapur, Daund, Baramati, and Haveli talukas. However, the open canal system suffers from significant water leakage due to years of neglect, lack of maintenance, and encroachments along its route.

The proposed tunnel, stretching from Khadakwasla Dam to Phursungi, is expected to save approximately 2.18 to 2.5 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water annually, which is currently lost due to leakage and evaporation. The tunnel will operate on gravity flow, eliminating the need for motor pumps and enhancing energy efficiency. Additionally, the project is anticipated to restore irrigation to 3,471 hectares of land previously deprived of water supply. Despite the project’s potential benefits, it faces delays due to the lack of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the state environment department. Officials from the Khadakwasla irrigation division have indicated that while the forest department granted its NOC over a month ago, the environmental clearance is still pending. A meeting was held two weeks ago, and a site visit by the environment department was scheduled for the following week, but no further updates have been provided.

The delay in environmental clearance has stalled the commencement of construction, even though the tender process has been completed and a private contractor has been appointed. Preliminary work, including land acquisition and the establishment of labour camps near Khadakwasla Dam, has begun in anticipation of the project’s start. The tunnel is expected to be constructed at depths ranging from 80 to 240 meters, with an internal diameter of 6.3 meters, using drilling and blasting techniques. The project’s delay not only hampers water conservation efforts but also affects urban development plans. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has conducted drone surveys along the existing canal route, intending to repurpose the land for public infrastructure, including road links, parks, and open spaces. However, these plans are contingent on the completion of the tunnel project and the subsequent decommissioning of the old canal system.

Environmental experts emphasise the importance of such infrastructure projects in promoting sustainable water management, especially in rapidly urbanising regions like Pune. The transition from open canals to underground tunnels can significantly reduce water loss, prevent contamination, and free up valuable urban land for development. However, they also stress the need for thorough environmental assessments to mitigate potential ecological impacts. The Khadakwasla-Phursungi tunnel project represents a critical step towards modernising Pune’s water infrastructure and addressing the challenges posed by urban expansion and climate change. Its successful implementation could serve as a model for similar initiatives across India, balancing development needs with environmental sustainability.

As the project awaits the necessary environmental clearances, stakeholders and residents alike hope for a swift resolution to the bureaucratic hurdles, enabling the commencement of a project that promises significant benefits for the region’s water management and urban development.

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Pune Water Tunnel Project Faces Clearance Delay
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