A serious public health crisis has emerged in Bhopal after dangerous coliform bacteria were found in the water supply of Bajpai Nagar on Wednesday. This alarming discovery comes at a time when the state is still reeling from the Indore water tragedy, which has thrust urban water safety into the national spotlight.
A Flawed Fix: New Pipe, Same Dangerous Proximity
Instead of addressing the root cause by repairing the contaminated pipeline or investigating the clear violation of separation norms between sewer and water lines, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has opted for a startling solution. They are laying a brand new water supply pipe barely two feet away from the old, compromised line. Both pipes run parallel to an existing sewer line, repeating the original design flaw.
The work is taking place in a residential complex built under the planned Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Ironically, a project that once involved consultants and strict procedures now has a trench filled with accumulated sewage, garbage, and sludge.
Human Cost: Digging Through Filth for Survival
Into this hazardous environment step workers like Reshlala Kala and his wife Sarita from Chhindwara. They are paid a meagre Rs 80 per metre to dig through the filth where garbage water pools. Their safety equipment is virtually non-existent: they work with bare hands and a plough, wearing only half pants and torn gloves. There are no boots, masks, or any of the safety gear BMC protocols supposedly mandate.
"At least we got the gloves," Reshlala said, showing his stained palms. Their six-year-old son sits perilously close to the exposed, rusting pipe. The couple's motivation is stark survival. "We just need work," Sarita explained. "Here, we can make ends meet. Give our son a better future." After completing 50 metres for Rs 4,000, they will move to the next dangerous site.
Residents Bear the Brunt of Systemic Failure
While the contaminated tubewell has been shut, the old, dilapidated pipeline continues to supply water to residents, posing a continuous health threat. Labourer Rajesh pointed to inner buildings where a water supply valve emerges from a pit collecting sewer water. "This is the situation in almost the entire colony. People are falling ill," he said.
Ground-floor residents Sher Singh and his wife Gyanwati highlighted the daily struggle. "Water quality is a problem. We do not have water purifiers; we rely on simple filtration at source," they stated.
When confronted, BMC City Engineer Udit Garg claimed no new contamination cases were reported on Thursday. Regarding the pipeline's state, he said, "A new water supply pipeline is being laid. It would take about six months." This timeline offers little comfort to residents drinking potentially hazardous water and workers risking their lives in a sewage-filled trench for a pittance.
