Repair work is ready to begin on the 12km Malad water tunnel in Mumbai, two months after it was closed. Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) quoted an estimate of INR 5 crore (USD 1.1M) for the work.
The Malad tunnel, 76m deep, has been leaking five million litres of water a day since it was damaged in February after two men were caught illegally digging a bore well.
The strategy for the repair work was finalised at the start of this week. As per the plan, the hydraulic department will de-water the tunnel to facilitate repairs. Closed circuit cameras will be used to survey the extent of the damage. To stop water from seeping out from the bore-hole accidentally created on the tunnel during the illegal bore well digging, the HCC staff will then used German-made internal expanding packers.
For the period of the work, which could last a month, an old pipeline will continue to supply water to the region.
