Madhya Pradesh High Court Orders Chief Secretary to Address Water Contamination Crisis

Court Directs Action on Water Safety in Indore

On Tuesday, the High Court of Madhya Pradesh mandated Chief Secretary Anurag Jain to join a video conference to discuss measures being implemented to combat water contamination, following multiple fatalities attributed to unsafe drinking water in Indore.

While the state government reported that eight individuals succumbed due to contaminated water, the local administration has issued compensation checks of Rs 2 lakh to 18 families, as noted by a news outlet.

Over 1,400 individuals have reported illnesses such as vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration in the Bhagirathpura region, with the first cases emerging on December 24. On Tuesday, 38 additional cases of vomiting and diarrhea were reported, according to another news source.

A total of 142 individuals have been hospitalized due to this outbreak, with 11 requiring intensive care.

During the hearing of several petitions regarding the outbreak, Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi emphasized that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution encompasses the right to access clean drinking water.

The court remarked that the issue of water contamination extends beyond Indore, affecting the entire state. It instructed the chief secretary to report back on January 15 regarding the measures being taken to avert similar incidents.

The bench also requested information on immediate and emergency actions for those impacted in Bhagirathpura, including preventive and corrective measures.

Details regarding disciplinary actions, victim compensation, directives for local authorities, and strategies for public awareness and transparency were also sought by the court.

Furthermore, the court ordered the state to ensure the prompt supply of safe drinking water to the affected regions via tankers or packaged water at government expense, along with providing free medical screenings and treatment for the residents impacted.

Residents of Bhagirathpura had previously reported that the water they received had an unusual odor.

On Monday, unnamed officials informed a news outlet that over half of the groundwater samples collected from borewells in Bhagirathpura tested positive for E. coli bacteria, which indicates fecal contamination and a potential health risk.