The Centre has acknowledged the water contamination incident in Indore’s Bhagirath Pura and is assisting states through financial and technical schemes such as AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0, the Rajya Sabha was
informed on Monday.
In a written response to a query, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu stated that the region has ageing pipelines from 1997, noting that “some of it is damaged, so the municipal administration identified the old stretches of pipeline and included them under AMRUT 2.0”.
Several people in Bhagirath Pura have succumbed to diarrhoea and vomiting since the end of December.
The minister highlighted that the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has initiated four water supply projects for the city under AMRUT 2.0. Execution of Package-1 has commenced, while the remaining three packages are awaiting approval.
The initiative addresses the entire water supply chain, including comprehensive overhauling, augmentation, and modernisation of the existing system. This encompasses source development, treatment, conveyance, storage, and citywide distribution.
All packages include system integration, commissioning, and long-term operation and maintenance to ensure a safe, reliable, and sustainable drinking water supply for the urban area.
Sahu emphasised that water management is a state responsibility, with the Union government providing supplementary support through advisories and infrastructure funding.
The state government has implemented standard operating procedures (SOPs) for urban local bodies to prevent water contamination.
“About 14,181 leakages were detected to date, with 12,634 of them repaired. Out of 3,298 overhead tanks, 3,109 have been cleaned.
“Similarly, out of 21,215 tubewells, 179 were found polluted and 86 were closed for use. Regular water quality testing is ensured. Of the 80,976 samples tested, 656 failed, and action was taken at 588 points where pollution was detected,” Sahu reported.
The state government informed that under AMRUT, three drinking water supply schemes worth Rs 541 crore and two sewerage schemes worth Rs 278 crore were executed for Indore city.
Additionally, under AMRUT 2.0, two water supply schemes worth Rs 1,142 crore and four sewerage schemes worth Rs 534 crore have been sanctioned. The municipal corporation is also implementing two water supply schemes worth Rs 1,121.54 crore.
