Nearly 50 residents of the Hinotia Alam Housing for All (HFA) apartments staged a massive protest outside the Bhopal Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) new headquarters on Thursday, following a severe water crisis that has persisted for the past four days. The demonstration, which included women and children, lasted for nearly four hours as agitated residents demanded the immediate restoration of basic amenities. The protest highlighted the growing desperation among the residents as the intense heat took a toll on the participants. One woman fainted at the main gate of the BMC office during the stand-off. Raising slogans against the municipal body, protesters alleged that the water distribution in the colony, managed by a private worker named Ranveer Ahirwar, was halted because his salary had not been paid.

 

The maintenance deadlock: The BMC administration, however, attributed the disruption to a long-standing financial dispute. According to officials, residents have failed to pay maintenance charges for a significant period, leading to an outstanding debt of approximately Rs 40 lakh. Residents demand improved services: Countering the administration’s claims, residents stated that they had withheld maintenance payments due to consistently poor services, including inadequate sanitation and the supply of contaminated water. They expressed a willingness to clear the dues provided the BMC ensures the provision of functional and hygienic basic facilities. R K Goyal, Head of the HFA Department, confirmed that the non-payment of maintenance dues has directly impacted service delivery, leading to the current disruption in supply.