Overview
- The NGT’s Central Zone Bench set up a six-member committee including an IIT Indore nominee and a CPCB representative to probe Madhya Pradesh’s water contamination and deliver findings within six weeks.
- Tribunal directions require GIS mapping of water and sewer lines, mandatory chlorination, urgent leak repairs, universal metering, regular tank cleaning, and a 24x7 consumer-facing MIS and mobile app, with compliance reviewed on March 30.
- In filings to the High Court, Madhya Pradesh attributed 15 deaths in Indore’s Bhagirathpura to contaminated supply, reported 440 hospitalisations, and said ex-gratia payments were made to the families of 21 deceased as toll figures remain contested.
- Authorities said 51 contaminated tubewells are out of use, pipeline repairs are underway, and Narmada water has been restored to roughly 30% of the locality after testing, with the mayor publicly sampling tap water and residents advised to boil water.
- Separately, the NGT Principal Bench issued notices to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh after media reports of sewage mixing with drinking water in multiple cities, calling the situation a serious governance failure and a breach of environmental and water laws.