The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued urgent directives to the Indore municipal corporation and state government to ensure a regular supply of clean drinking water to affected areas, following a severe public health crisis linked to contaminated water that has claimed several lives and hospitalized hundreds.
Court's Stern Directive Amid Public Health Emergency
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning deaths suspected from consuming polluted water in Indore's Bhagirathpura area, a Division Bench of Justices Dwarkadhish Bansal and Rajendra Kumar Vani mandated immediate action. The court ordered the authorities to not only supply additional water tankers but also to "uphold the beauty of Indore." Justice Bansal emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "This is big news. If people are dying because of the water, then this is wrong."
The Bench explicitly instructed the corporation and state government to provide clean water consistently and ensure the best possible medical treatment for all affected individuals. During the proceedings, lawyer Mohan Singh Chandel informed the court that residents lacked access to safe drinking water despite his visit to the site.
Scale of the Crisis and Official Response
The health crisis has been unfolding since December 26, with over 1,400 people reported ill and more than 200 hospitalized after drinking contaminated water. The death toll remains contested; while the administration acknowledges four fatalities, other officials report at least eight deaths linked to the water. Investigative teams have found bacterial contamination in at least 26 water samples.
In response to the court, the Indore municipal corporation submitted that it had already deployed 30 water tankers to the area. However, expressing dissatisfaction with the scale of the response, Justice Bansal remarked, "Indore is such a respected city... What will happen with just one tanker?" He ordered the immediate dispatch of additional tankers, insisting they reach within 10 minutes and that photographs be sent to the petitioner's lawyer as proof.
Immediate Actions and Ongoing Accountability
Following the court's intervention, the corporation committed to sending four more water tankers immediately. The judges stressed the need for swift and effective action, calling on the Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to ensure compliance. The case highlights a severe challenge for Indore, a city repeatedly awarded the title of India's cleanest, now grappling with a deadly water safety failure.
The court's proactive stance underscores the critical failure in public service delivery and sets a precedent for holding municipal bodies accountable during public health emergencies. The directive to "uphold the beauty of Indore" goes beyond infrastructure, touching on the city's reputation and the fundamental right of its citizens to safe, clean water.
