Pune: After more than a month, the State government announced the formation of a five-member committee to find out the reason and suggest precautionary measures for breach of Mutha right bank canal on September 27 this year. The deadline for the report is December 15. 

In the canal breach, many parts of Sinhagad Road and areas located near Sane Guruji School to Dattawadi got inundated after a breach in the canal wall. According to the civic body, 730 people were affected and Guardian Minister Girish Bapat announced aid of Rs 3 crore. Water Resource Minister Girish Mahajan had visited spot after incident and  said the Irrigation Department officials told him that rodents might have weakened the foundation of the canal wall. 

On Monday, the State Water Resource Ministry issued a government resolution. The committee consists of chief superintending engineer of hydro electrical project of Pune who will chair the committee, deputy district collector of Pune city, superintending engineer of Irrigation project, assistant municipal commissioner of Ghole Road ward office and superintendent engineer of Koyna dam project. 

The committee will find out the cause of the canal breach, reason for damage to residential areas, find out dangerous spots of canal in PMC jurisdiction and suggest precautionary measures, frame guidelines for  
maintenance of canal in PMC limits.

The canal was constructed in 1965 and is 202 km long and supplies water to PMC for drinking and irrigation purposes. It also supplies water to rural parts of Pune district. There is an 18-km stretch of the canal in PMC limits.