The Madhya Pradesh government has initiated a major technological overhaul of its drinking water monitoring infrastructure, a direct response to a fatal contamination crisis in Indore last month. The move aims to prevent a repeat of the tragedy that claimed at least eight lives and caused widespread illness in the city's Bhagirathpura area.
Tech-Driven Overhaul: Robots and Digital Mapping
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav officially launched the 'Swachh Jal Abhiyan' on Saturday, outlining a plan where robotic technology will be deployed to inspect the interiors of underground pipelines. Simultaneously, the state will use GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping to create a detailed layout of all drinking water and sewer networks. This digital map will help authorities pinpoint exact locations where the two systems intersect or run dangerously close, a primary risk factor for contamination.
The administration stated this integrated system is designed to strengthen oversight and address the serious structural vulnerabilities in supply lines exposed by the recent crisis. Officials confirmed that such a systematic, technology-backed inspection of civic networks has never been attempted statewide before.
Immediate Action and Accountability
Under the campaign, the government will not only map and inspect but also undertake immediate physical repairs. This includes cleaning all water treatment plants and overhead storage tanks, sealing leaky joints, and replacing worn-out pipeline segments before the peak summer demand hits. CM Yadav emphasized that providing safe water is a non-negotiable government responsibility. He instructed officials that any suspicion of contamination must trigger immediate provision of alternative water supplies to households.
In a stern warning, Yadav declared the mission a difficult but essential task and said departments would be held accountable for lapses. He added that negligence by any staff member would invite strict action. The launch was conducted via video conference attended by ministers Kailash Vijayvargiya and Prahlad Patel, along with a full chain of administrative and elected representatives from urban and rural bodies.
Indore's Race Against Time
Meanwhile, in the epicenter of the crisis, the Indore administration is working against a tight deadline. State Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya provided an update, stating that 30% of the work to lay new pipelines in Bhagirathpura is complete. He assured residents that clean drinking water supply would be restored within three days, but only after rigorous water sampling confirms it is 100% safe.
Authorities are also setting up a system to check all 108 water tankers operating in Indore. As a precautionary measure, teams have undertaken chlorination exercises for 3,600 borewells in the city, which are considered a potential source of the contamination. A senior Indore Municipal Corporation official admitted that the exact source of the pollution has not yet been definitively tracked, with multiple candidates under investigation.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Indore district administration has distributed compensation cheques of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of 18 people connected to the incident. This follows the state's submission to the high court confirming a death toll of eight.
