THE tragic death of 12 people due to contaminated water in Indore has sent shockwaves across Madhya Pradesh, yet the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) appears to be leaning on bureaucratic claims rather than addressing a ticking time bomb beneath the city’s streets. While Municipal Commissioner Sanskriti Jain has certified 99% of the water distribution network as safe, the ground reality in the state capital tells a more perilous story.

 

Bhopal’s water distribution is a tale of two cities. While New Bhopal enjoys relatively modern infrastructure, areas like Itwara, Budhwara, Bagh Farhat Afza, Karond, and Bairagarh rely on a network that is 40 to 50 years old. Of the city’s 2,500 km long pipeline network, nearly 45% passes directly through open drains and sewage channels. Public health experts explain that when the water supply is cut off, a ‘negative pressure’ is created within the pipes.

 

This suction draws sewage and filth from leakages directly into the main supply. In localities like Fiza Colony (Ward 78), residents report having to flush out foul-smelling, black water for the first 5 to 8 minutes every time the supply begins. Following the Indore crisis, Superintending Engineer Udit Garg ordered the testing of over 300 water samples. Officials claimed that no significant leakages were detected on the first day.

 

However, experts warn that standard chlorination, currently being ramped up by the BMC, has its limits.“If sewage is directly infiltrating the pipes, the standard dose of chlorine cannot neutralise all pathogens, posing a severe risk of water-borne epidemics,” a public health specialist noted. The Amrit 2.0 Lag: Under the Rs 448-crore Amrit 2.0 Project, the BMC plans to replace old pipelines with Galvanised Iron (GI) lines.

 

However, the pace of execution remains sluggish. Currently, the city’s water supply capacity stands between 514 and 575 MLD, but approximately 15-20% of this water is lost to leakages, which also serve as entry points for contaminants. Stung by the neighbouring city’s tragedy, Mayor Malti Rai has directed officials to implement rigorous monitoring.

 

“The Indore incident is a grave warning for all urban bodies. No negligence will be tolerated in Bhopal,” she said, demanding a detailed report on pipeline vulnerabilities.