DRINKING water supply, its quality, and the condition of pipelines are under heightened scrutiny in the wake of the recent Indore tragedy, which has triggered serious allegations regarding contaminated water supply and neglected pipelines. With similar concerns being raised about drinking water systems and ageing pipelines in the Bhopal division, the administration has moved to tighten monitoring and accountability across the division. Against this backdrop, Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Singh on Thursday conducted a detailed review of drinking water arrangements through video conferencing with officials from all districts of the division.

 

The review covered both rural and urban areas, with emphasis on preventing incidents linked to poor water quality or faulty supply lines. Daily testing of drinking water: Singh directed district CEOs, Chief Municipal Officers, and concerned officials to ensure daily testing of drinking water, making it clear that negligence in water quality monitoring will not be tolerated. He instructed that all complaints related to drinking water received on the CM Helpline must be resolved immediately, stressing that delays could lead to serious public health consequences, as seen in Indore.

 

Taking serious note of old and deteriorating pipelines, the Commissioner instructed officials of Rajgarh, Sehore, Vidisha, and Raisen districts to conduct immediate surveys of old water supply lines. He said that wherever repair or replacement is required, corrective action must be taken without delay. In light of allegations emerging from Bhopal regarding water contamination and pipeline issues, he emphasised proactive inspection rather than reactive measures.

 

Water treatment plants be tested regularly: Singh also directed that all water treatment plants be tested regularly in co-ordination with urban local bodies and that their functioning be closely monitored. Reviewing the work of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, he instructed district CEOs to mandatorily inspect drinking water systems during field visits.

 

Testing of hand pump water sources and regular cleaning of water tanks were also made mandatory. The Commissioner stated that in the next review meeting, officials must present precise data on water testing, supply systems, and available water sources. He also reviewed rural drinking water schemes and directed that Village Water and Sanitation Committees manage and monitor water distribution at the village level to ensure transparency and safety.