Indore Water Contamination: ‘60% citizens express doubts about safety of drinking water’

 

Senior Correspondent

NewsBits.in

 

INDORE: In the wake of the contaminated drinking water tragedy in Bhagirathpura, Indore, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India conducted a survey on water supply in Indore, involving 208 residents from 34 urban areas across 13 zones and 18 wards of the Indore Municipal Corporation.

 

In Bhopal, the survey included a total of 53 residents (11 individuals surveyed personally and 42 participating in two focus group discussions). As of January 16, 2026, this crisis had resulted in 24 deaths and over 400 people falling ill.

 

The survey compiled by Amulya Nidhi, Rehmat Mansury and Sudha Tiwari revealed that the majority of residents in Indore, approximately 89%, do not receive 24x7 water supply, and a similar situation was found in Bhopal.

 

In contaminated water hit-Indore, 60% of respondents expressed doubts about the safe drinking water they receive. Almost all (100%) respondents in Bhopal gave a similar response.

 

According to the report, approximately 40% of people in Indore admitted to having suffered from waterborne diseases such as vomiting, diarrhoea, typhoid, and jaundice.

 

It is worth noting that in 2004, a loan of ₹1365 crore was taken from the Asian Development Bank to provide 24x7 water supplies to the city. Furthermore, between 2015 and 2025, ₹3000 crore was spent under the AMRUT 1.0 and 2.0 schemes. Despite spending crores of rupees, the city's residents are still struggling to get clean water and are risking their lives by consuming contaminated water.

 

Amulya Nidhi of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India also questioned the role of privatization (PPP model) in water supply, stating that it has weakened the water supply system and led to the neglect of public health.

 

Ensuring the supply of safe drinking water is not merely a service delivery issue but a serious public health matter and a fundamental right of citizens. Urban local bodies should operate their water supply systems on this basis, he said.

 

REPORT SENT TO REGISTRAR MP HIGH COURT

Rehmat Mansoori, Sudha Tiwari, Dr. G.D. Verma, Rahul Yadav, and Sajida Khan of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India stated that this revelation came to light during a preliminary survey, the report of which has been sent to the Registrar of the High Court.

 

The JSAI believes that since Indore and Bhopal are the two major cities of the state, the municipal corporation should conduct a large-scale survey to ascertain the actual status of water supply in these cities.

 

In a letter written to the Registrar, the Abhiyan has made the following demands:

 

1. Ensure Independent investigation of the incident and announce public health emergency.

2. Ensure immediate implementation of 24x7 continuous pressurised safe and adequate water supplies for all citizens. 

3. Prevent incidences like Bhagirathpura, Indore and strict action against the responsible. 

4. Those who are still sick from water borne disease from any other locality of Indore and other parts of country must provide free treatment 

5. Quantity and quality of the water supplied should be strictly according to CPHEEO O&M Manual, free from Physical, Chemical and Bacteriological contamination.

6. Independent third-party evaluation of water supply and sanitation systems.

7. Compensation of Rs 1 crore to all who died due to consumption of contaminated water (Rs 2 Lakh has been given to 18 victims which is very less)

8. An independent investigation should be conducted into the ₹3,000 crore spent under the AMRUT scheme from 2015 to 2025 and the ₹1,365 crore loans taken from the Asian Development Bank in 2004.