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Khadakwasla to Fursungi Tunnel Project gets environmental clearance, boosts Pune's water supply
Pune, August 28, 2025: The Union Ministry of Environment has finally given the green light to the proposed 28-km-long underground tunnel project between Khadakwasla Dam and Fursungi in Pune. This approval will give a major boost to Pune's water supply and irrigation system for agriculture. This project will be developed as an alternative to the right canal of the Mutha River, which will reduce water leakage, pollution and evaporation and save about 2.7 TMC of water, informed the officials of the Water Resources Department.
Project Features and Objectives
This tunnel will be constructed in a circular trench measuring 7.8 meters wide, 3.9 meters high and 1.95 meters high. The capacity of this 'D' shaped tunnel will be 1,510 cusecs. The plan is to carry water from Khadakwasla Dam to Fursungi through gravity. This will prevent water wastage and provide stable water supply to farmers in Pune city and its surroundings. The project will be completed at a cost of about Rs 2,190 crore, said H. V. Gunale, Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department.
This project will provide water for irrigation to 3,472 hectares of land in Pune district. Apart from this, it will also contribute to environmental protection by reducing water leakage and pollution. This tunnel will be important in preventing water loss from the existing open canal.
Project journey and approval process
The concept of the Khadakwasla to Fursungi tunnel project was first proposed in 2018. Then in 2022, the Water Resources Department prepared a detailed report of the project and submitted it to the State Technical Advisory Committee. After the committee corrected some minor errors in the report, the project received preliminary approval in 2023. However, a proposal was sent to the Central Government for environmental clearance, which was pending for the last few months.
The project faced hurdles in getting environmental clearance in June 2025, but in July 2025, the Central Water Committee inspected the project site and gave in-principle approval. Now that the Union Environment Ministry has given the final ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC), it is expected that the actual work of the project will begin soon. The preliminary work not related to the environment had started in March 2025, and now the full approval will accelerate the construction.
Political follow-up and local leadership
Daund taluka MLA Rahul Kul made special efforts to speed up this project. The proposal was stuck in the ministry for the last six months. Finally, in a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the officials decided to speed up the project. Local leaders and citizens have expressed satisfaction with this.
Benefits and future impacts of the project
Once this project is completed, Pune city will get a stable supply of drinking water and water availability for agriculture in rural areas will increase. A large amount of water is wasted every year due to water leakage and evaporation from the existing open canal. This tunnel will prevent this loss and enable efficient use of water. It will also reduce the problem of water pollution in the canal, which will promote environmental protection.
Pune, August 28, 2025: The Union Ministry of Environment has finally given the green light to the proposed 28-km-long underground tunnel project between Khadakwasla Dam and Fursungi in Pune. This approval will give a major boost to Pune's water supply and irrigation system for agriculture. This project will be developed as an alternative to the right canal of the Mutha River, which will reduce water leakage, pollution and evaporation and save about 2.7 TMC of water, informed the officials of the Water Resources Department.
Project Features and Objectives
This tunnel will be constructed in a circular trench measuring 7.8 meters wide, 3.9 meters high and 1.95 meters high. The capacity of this 'D' shaped tunnel will be 1,510 cusecs. The plan is to carry water from Khadakwasla Dam to Fursungi through gravity. This will prevent water wastage and provide stable water supply to farmers in Pune city and its surroundings. The project will be completed at a cost of about Rs 2,190 crore, said H. V. Gunale, Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department.
This project will provide water for irrigation to 3,472 hectares of land in Pune district. Apart from this, it will also contribute to environmental protection by reducing water leakage and pollution. This tunnel will be important in preventing water loss from the existing open canal.
Project journey and approval process
The concept of the Khadakwasla to Fursungi tunnel project was first proposed in 2018. Then in 2022, the Water Resources Department prepared a detailed report of the project and submitted it to the State Technical Advisory Committee. After the committee corrected some minor errors in the report, the project received preliminary approval in 2023. However, a proposal was sent to the Central Government for environmental clearance, which was pending for the last few months.
The project faced hurdles in getting environmental clearance in June 2025, but in July 2025, the Central Water Committee inspected the project site and gave in-principle approval. Now that the Union Environment Ministry has given the final ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC), it is expected that the actual work of the project will begin soon. The preliminary work not related to the environment had started in March 2025, and now the full approval will accelerate the construction.
Political follow-up and local leadership
Daund taluka MLA Rahul Kul made special efforts to speed up this project. The proposal was stuck in the ministry for the last six months. Finally, in a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the officials decided to speed up the project. Local leaders and citizens have expressed satisfaction with this.
Benefits and future impacts of the project
Once this project is completed, Pune city will get a stable supply of drinking water and water availability for agriculture in rural areas will increase. A large amount of water is wasted every year due to water leakage and evaporation from the existing open canal. This tunnel will prevent this loss and enable efficient use of water. It will also reduce the problem of water pollution in the canal, which will promote environmental protection.
Project Features and Objectives
This tunnel will be constructed in a circular trench measuring 7.8 meters wide, 3.9 meters high and 1.95 meters high. The capacity of this 'D' shaped tunnel will be 1,510 cusecs. The plan is to carry water from Khadakwasla Dam to Fursungi through gravity. This will prevent water wastage and provide stable water supply to farmers in Pune city and its surroundings. The project will be completed at a cost of about Rs 2,190 crore, said H. V. Gunale, Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department.
This project will provide water for irrigation to 3,472 hectares of land in Pune district. Apart from this, it will also contribute to environmental protection by reducing water leakage and pollution. This tunnel will be important in preventing water loss from the existing open canal.
Project journey and approval process
The concept of the Khadakwasla to Fursungi tunnel project was first proposed in 2018. Then in 2022, the Water Resources Department prepared a detailed report of the project and submitted it to the State Technical Advisory Committee. After the committee corrected some minor errors in the report, the project received preliminary approval in 2023. However, a proposal was sent to the Central Government for environmental clearance, which was pending for the last few months.
The project faced hurdles in getting environmental clearance in June 2025, but in July 2025, the Central Water Committee inspected the project site and gave in-principle approval. Now that the Union Environment Ministry has given the final ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC), it is expected that the actual work of the project will begin soon. The preliminary work not related to the environment had started in March 2025, and now the full approval will accelerate the construction.
Political follow-up and local leadership
Daund taluka MLA Rahul Kul made special efforts to speed up this project. The proposal was stuck in the ministry for the last six months. Finally, in a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the officials decided to speed up the project. Local leaders and citizens have expressed satisfaction with this.
Benefits and future impacts of the project
Once this project is completed, Pune city will get a stable supply of drinking water and water availability for agriculture in rural areas will increase. A large amount of water is wasted every year due to water leakage and evaporation from the existing open canal. This tunnel will prevent this loss and enable efficient use of water. It will also reduce the problem of water pollution in the canal, which will promote environmental protection.
