Lok Sabha Question No. 2273 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Contaminated Water Supply at Indore
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2273 TO BE ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2026

## CONTAMINATED WATER SUPPLY AT INDORE

## NO. 2273.   PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the recent incident of supply of contaminated drinking
- water at Indore;
- (b) the number of deaths reported due to the said incident;
- (c) the  total  number  of  residents  affected  by  illness  as  a  result  of
- consumption of contaminated water;
- (d) the  reasons  behind  the  occurrence  of  such  contamination  in  the drinking water supply;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  any  proper  mechanism  in  place  to monitor  and  check  the  quality  of  drinking  water  being  supplied across the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether responsibility for the said incident has been fixed on any official or bureaucrat and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

(a) to (e): Water is a State subject. The State Governments are responsible  for monitoring, enforcement,  and  corrective  action  for drinking water safety. The operation, maintenance and replacement of old deteriorated pipelines is the responsibility of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ parastatals. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States through  schematic  interventions/  advisories.  It  provides  financial  and technical support to the States through various schemes/ Missions such as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0 for approved infrastructure projects.

The  State  Government  of  Madhya  Pradesh  has  informed  that occurrence  of  drinking  water  contamination  has  been  reported  from Indore Municipal Corporation. Immediately upon receiving information on 28.12.2025  regarding  incidents  of  vomiting  and  diarrhoea  in  Bhagirath Pura area, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) along  with  the   Health

Department and Public Health Engineering Department initiated a joint and prompt response. First and foremost, all sick patients were attended to and the ones who were serious, were hospitalized in super-specialty Medical College and Private Hospital. Not so sick were attended to by Health and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) workers with door-to-door survey and distribution of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) packets and Chlorine tablets for Water disinfection. Water Supply through pipelines and borewells were completely stopped and water tankers were forced into service. Samples were taken from multiple supply points at user  end  to  ascertain  the  type  of  contamination  and  sent  to  National Accreditation  Board  for  Testing  and  Calibration  Laboratories  (NABL) of leakages, possibility of inter mixing of contaminated water was taken up accredited labs. Immediate  remedial action like identifications and repair works started.

As informed by the State, 16 deaths have been verified by the Chief Medical & Health  Officer/ Death Audit Committee of MGM Medical College, Indore. The State Government has provided ex-gratia financial assistance to the families of the deceased as per prevailing State norms. ₹40 lakh compensation was given to the deceased from Bhagirath Pura. Medical treatment to affected persons was provided free of cost in Government/ Private hospitals. In Bhagirath Pura, 35,421 households were surveyed by health  officials  in  which  1,64,942  people  were  screened.  454  patients were admitted to hospital out of which 441 have been discharged. AIIMS Bhopal experts visited Indore on 03.01.2026 and shared protocol regarding  the treatment  during meetings  and 24X7  medical  facility  has been ensured by the State.

The matter is sub judice vide Writ Petition no. 247 of 2026 and others in the Hon'ble High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Indore. Hon'ble High Court in  their  order  dated  27.01.2026  appointed  Justice  Sushil  Kumar  Gupta, former Judge of Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirath Pura, Indore. The terms of reference of the Commission include submission of report  on  the  cause  of  contamination  and  provide  its  inputs  on  public health on matters such as number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water, nature of disease reported, adequacy of medical response and preventive measures, immediate steps required to  ensure safe drinking water, long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms, and identification and fixing responsibility upon the officers and officials  found  prima  facie  responsible  for  the  Bhagirathpura  water contamination  incident  and  suggest  guidelines  for  compensation  to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.

The State Government has also informed that Standard Operating Procedures have been issued to Urban Local Bodies to avoid contamination of water. About 14,181 leakages were detected so far out of  which 12,634 leakages have been repaired. Out of 3,298 Over Head Tanks  in  the  State,  3,109  have  been  cleaned.  Similarly,  out  of  21,215 tubewells, 179 were found polluted and 86 tubewells were closed for use. Regular testing of quality of water is ensured. 656 water samples were found fail out of 80,976 samples, while action was taken at 588 points where  pollution  was  detected.  Issues  of  contamination  of  water  were resolved through 2,821 Jal Sunwai.

A  Statewide  Clean  Water  Campaign  'Swacchh  Jal  Abhiyaan'  has been launched from January 10, 2026 with the objective of ensuring the quality of drinking water supplied to citizens in urban and rural areas of the State, building public trust in the water supply system, etc.

Under AMRUT/ AMRUT 2.0, the States/ UTs are empowered to select, appraise,  prioritise  and  implement  the  projects  as  per  their  local requirements including augmentation/ rehabilitation of infrastructure as per Mission guidelines. Under AMRUT 2.0, cities have prepared City Water Balance Plans (CWBPs), which include as-is assessment of water supply systems which help cities/ ULBs to identify vulnerabilities and prioritise system-strengthening measures.

To  ensure  safe  drinking  water  supply  to  the  urban  households, AMRUT/AMRUT  2.0  supports,  rehabilitation  and  upgradation  of  water supply  network  and  creation/augmentation  of  Water  Treatment  Plants (WTPs) plants. Under AMRUT, a total of 73,520 km of water supply pipeline network has been laid or replaced. Under AMRUT 2.0, about 1.26 lakh km of water supply network has been approved in the sanctioned projects, of which 22,332 km pertains to replacement of the existing water supply network.  To  provide  drinkable  water  from  taps  under  AMRUT  2.0,  408 round  the  clock  projects  (24x7)  covering  1152  District  Metered  Area (DMAs) and benefitting around 16.72 lakh households have been approved to mitigate contaminations in intermittent water supply systems. So far, 6140 Million Litre per Day (MLD) of WTP capacity has been approved under AMRUT,  of  which,  5,330  MLD  WTP  capacity  has  been  created.  Under AMRUT 2.0, 11,393 MLD WTP capacity has been approved so far. These treatment plants are generally equipped with inhouse lab facilities or have tie up with the Labs for regular water quality testing.

To strengthen monitoring system AMRUT 2.0 advocates incorporation of smart components in water supply schemes, including online  water   quality  sensors,  Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

(SCADA) systems, GIS-based asset mapping, bulk and consumer metering, and AI/IoT-based monitoring solutions. Under AMRUT, 258 water supply schemes have been implemented with SCADA. Under AMRUT 2.0, 1,415 water supply projects have provision for SCADA system. In addition, under AMRUT Mitra initiative, women Self Help Groups are engaged by ULBs for collection of water quality testing at field level.

Further for safe disposal of sewage in urban areas, under AMRUT, a total of 889 sewerage and septage management projects amounting to ₹34,467 crore have been grounded. Through these projects, about 6,299 MLD of sewage treatment capacity has been approved. Of this, 4,843 MLD of sewage treatment capacity (new/augmented) has been created, out of which 1,437 MLD capacity has been developed for recycle and reuse of treated waste water. Under AMRUT 2.0, 583 sewerage/septage projects worth ₹66117.69 crore have been approved by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) so far. Approved projects cover 6,649 MLD sewage treatment  capacity  (new/augmentation)  of  which  1,931  MLD  sewage treatment capacity is for recycle/reuse.

Drinking water quality arrangement in urban areas is governed by standards and guidelines issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) primarily IS 10500: Drinking Water - Specification. Water quality testing for compliance  and  regulatory  reporting  should  be  conducted  in  NABL accredited laboratories conforming to ISO/IEC 7025. The Ministry has also published Manual on Water Supply and Treatment Systems (Drink from Tap)  in  March  2024  (https://mohua.gov.in/publication/manual-on-watersupply-and-treatment-systems---drink-from-tap---march-2024.php), for reference by the States/ ULBs for designing and implementation of the water  supply  projects.  The  manual  has  a  Chapter  on  'Drinking  water quality monitoring and surveillance', which outlines the standard procedures for various components of drinking water quality monitoring and surveillance  and  sanitary  surveillance  (inspection)  activities  to  be undertaken by Urban Water Service Providers.

(f): The  State  Government  has  informed  that  disciplinary  action  has been  taken  against  the  officers  responsible  for  lapses  in  discharge  of duties in connection with the Indore incident. The Commissioner, IMC and the Additional Commissioner & in-charge of Drinking Water Supply were transferred.  The  Executive  Engineer  (Narmada)  has  been  placed  under suspension for serious lapse in discharge of duties related to the incident. The Assistant Engineer, Zone No. 04, and Zonal Officer, Zone No. 04, Ward No. 11, were placed under suspension for carelessness, negligence, and disobedience of orders of senior officers, and departmental inquiries have been initiated against them. Muster Sub-Engineer, Zone No. 04, Ward No. 11  has  been  relieved  from  duty  (terminated),  his  remuneration  was stopped, and his employment ID was permanently locked.

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