Residents living along the VIP Road beside the historic Upper Lake in Bhopal say they are caught between two ironies: their homes have been marked for demolition under new National Green Tribunal directives due to proximity to the lake, yet many of these households now face erratic water supply — despite literally living beside the millennia-old lake.
Water Shortage Began in March
Local residents report that the water shortage began in March. “Earlier the water was steady, now it barely tickles,” said one resident, who asked not to be named. Neighbouring households indicate that supply, which used to be reliable, now comes sporadically for short stretches. Previously, water was available for a roughly three-hour window early in the morning, around 5 to 8 am. Residents say the timing has lately become unpredictable and sometimes non-existent.
Complaints to Authorities Unresolved
Complaints to the Chief Minister’s helpline have so far yielded no solution. The complaint was registered under number 38100678. Residents say they were informed on Tuesday by helpline staffer Rishi Sharma that the matter had been noted after a follow-up call, but the problem remains unresolved.
Allegations of Water Diversion
Some locals allege that low pressure and interrupted flows are due to diversion of water to nearby Shaheed Colony, leaving lakeside homes with only a “trickle.” “You can see the Upper Lake from many windows here, but we don’t have water to fill our tanks,” a resident said. The affected colony lies on the city’s VIP Road and overlooks the centuries-old lake that supplies water to nearly 40 percent of Bhopal.
Municipal Corporation Unresponsive
Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials responsible for water supply in Zone 2 did not respond to requests for comment. With demolition notices on some residents looming and daily supply uncertain, residents say they are facing both the threat of demolition and the immediate hardship of water scarcity.
Infrastructure Details
Water supply for the area comes from the Idgah Hills filtration plant, which is the oldest in the state capital. New water supply pipelines from the pumping station to the filtration plant were laid under the AMRUT 1 scheme around four years ago.
