Peshwa-era Katraj water plan needs to be revived

With severe water crisis looming large over the city, and some parts of Peth areas already suffering from water problems for the last couple of days, the two-and-a-half-century-old Peshwa era underground water system is lying defunct for many years

The ancient water system, if not defunct, can fulfill the water needs of some Peth areas during water crisis. Presently the underground water system can’t provide potable water as constructions and damage to the pipeline has led to contamination of water from Swargate towards Peth areas.

Had the system been conserved today it could have supplied water to the inhabitants of Budhwar Peth, Guruwar Peth and Shaniwar Peth.

When contacted, water supply head of the Pune Municipal Corporation, VG Kulkarni said, “Till Sarasbaug some people are using the water for non-potable purpose but after that, owing to heavy contamination, citizens of Peth areas avoid using the water.”

Balaji Bajirao alias Nanasaheb Peshwa had built two dams in 1749-50 in Katraj on a stream by constructing big walls to hold water and supply it to the old city of Pune and Shaniwarwada.

According to Krushnaji Vinayak Sohoni, Nanasaheb verified the ample water stock and decided to carry the water from Katraj to Shaniwarwada and other Peth areas through underground stony tunnel.

For utilising this water there were many private and public water tanks. There were 80 cisterns available till 1914.

On March 26, 1879, the ownership of this Peshwa era underground water supply system was transferred to the Pune Municipal Council by British Government.

At the same time the possession of the land of about 165 acres of both the dams at Katraj were also transferred to the municipal council later.

After constructing the Khadakwasla dam, it started supplying water to Pune.

Despite that till 1915 the city used to get 7 lakh gallons of water every day from Katraj lake through the underground pipeline.
The Katraj tap ends at Ganesh Darwaja in the bastion, where a chamber was made, in Shaniwarwada. According to the book

‘Katrajcha Nal’ written by LR Gokhale in 1914, there are outlets at Omkareshwar mandir and Amruteshwar Ghat in Shaniwar Peth.
In January and February 2004 due to the effort of Sriram Bhagwat, Srikrishna Bhagwat and Nandakumar Bangude, the water system once again came into limelight. But owing to the contamination, the water system lies defunct presently, thereby of no use during times of crisis.