After recent deaths linked to polluted drinking water in Indore, the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the State Chief Secretary to appear before it via video conference and explain the measures being taken statewide to prevent water contamination and similar incidents elsewhere.
The Bench comprising Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi scheduled the appearance for January 15 and asked the Chief Secretary to brief the Court on:
- urgent relief for affected residents,
- preventive and remedial steps,
- inquiries and fixing responsibility,
- disciplinary and criminal action,
- compensation for victims,
- directions to local authorities, and
- public awareness and transparency measures.
The Court further instructed the State to immediately provide safe drinking water to the affected localities through tankers or packaged water at government expense, and to stop the use of contaminated sources such as identified pipelines, overhead tanks, borewells and rivers.
Authorities have also been asked to organize health camps, screen impacted residents, and ensure free treatment in government and empanelled private hospitals. Water samples are to be tested at multiple locations by NABL-accredited laboratories, the Court added.
Additional directions include repairing and replacing damaged pipelines, especially where water and sewer lines are adjacent, installing online water-quality monitoring facilities, following chlorination and disinfection protocols, and preparing a long-term water safety strategy for Indore.
The order was issued while hearing writ petitions concerning contamination in Bhagirathpura (Ward 11 of the Indore Municipal Corporation) and nearby areas. Media reports have indicated seven deaths and numerous cases of diarrhoea and related illnesses.
Observing that access to clean drinking water forms part of the right to life under Article 21, the Court termed the matter a public health emergency and said it would also examine responsibility, compensation and punitive action. It emphasised that water contamination is an issue affecting not only Indore but the entire State.
For Indore, the Court insisted that directions regarding emergency water supply, health camps, medical screening and free treatment must be complied with before the next hearing. It also sought relevant records, including tender documents for new water pipelines and reports of the State Pollution Control Board from 2017–2018.
