Even as Pune is finding it difficult to meet increasing water demand of citizens and is spending crores of rupees in revamping its supply lines, a proposal to revive the Peshwa era supply line with a capacity of seven lakh gallons a day and last used in 1970, is gathering dust in the Pune Municipal Corporation. The said committee report was to preserve and use as per requirement the Peshwa era water supply line that once catered to the demand of the central part of the city. The said water supply was set-up in 1749-50 during the rule of Balaji Bajirao Peshwa. The water from Katraj lake was brought to the central part of the city through a 2.5-feet wide and 5-feet deep duct constructed of stones and bricks up to Shaniwarwada, approximately 15 km in length. There were 103 duct openings till Parvati while 25 openings were in the central part of the city. The 24-hour water supply line was the main source of water for 80 haoud or artificially constructed small ponds for public utility. "The construction of Khadakwasla dam in 1880 enabled water connection at every doorstep in the city and the Peshwa era water supply line got neglected. The water was only drawn whenever the canal carrying the water from Khadakwasla dam was closed for repair. Till 1970, water from this supply line was being pumped out from the duct opening to cater to demand of Sahakarnagar and Bibewadi,' Srikrishna Bhagwat, member of the committee set up by the PMC to study the historical water supply system, said. The city used to get almost seven lakh gallons of water from Katraj lake every day through this ancient pipeline, he said. However, disuse of the line for the past 38 years coupled with construction activities blocking the path of water supply may have taken their toll. "It was the same water supply line that came to be of use when city faced problem due to floods in Panshet dam in 1960,' Bhagwat added. The committee also found that the water was still being used in various wadas, but blockages had slowed down the supply. "It is unfortunate that no one is interested in restoring the heritage water supply line,' he said. PMC Development Engineer V G Kulkarni, in charge of the PMC water supply system, said the Peshwa era water supply line is in a poor state. "Even if the PMC plans to restore this water supply line, the Katraj lake will dry within a few weeks,' Kulkarni said. In a study, the Ground Survey Development Authority had found that the water supplied through the ancient pipeline is potable. As per the Naik Environmental Research Institute Limited, appointed for beautification of river and lake in the city. "We have started restoration of the Katraj lake . It should be looked at as a heritage structure,' Deepak Naik said.