Pune: Days after water from the Baby Canal gushed into Manjari and Ghule Wasti, the civic administration has decided to shift water lines and cables laid in the canal area to clear obstacles hampering water flow. Additionally, the authorities are considering installing iron mesh at vulnerable stretches to prevent dumping of waste into the canal.The decision comes after local activists and corporators expressed displeasure over the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the irrigation department’s alleged failure to maintain the canal.Former corporator Yogesh Sasane stated that he has consistently raised concerns regarding the poor state of the canals in the Hadapsar area for the last five years, yet no concrete action has been taken. “Two canals flow through Hadapsar and Manjari — the ‘baby canal’ and the Mutha canal — both of which carry water to rural areas. Both are in terrible condition due to a lack of maintenance and vigil,” Sasane said.Local corporator Ajit Ghule highlighted the plight of those affected by the recent floods, noting that many belong to economically weaker sections. “The administration must provide financial assistance to those who suffered losses. Beyond immediate relief, we need a permanent solution. The walls of the Baby Canal are broken in several places; we need a detailed inspection and immediate repairs to prevent a repeat of this disaster,” Ghule said.
