After water contamination tragedy, Madhya Pradesh CM orders safe supply for all

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that ensuring the supply of safe drinking water to every citizen was the responsibility of urban local bodies and directed officials to prevent the supply of contaminated water under all circumstances.

Yadav's directive came after seven persons died in Indore's Bhagirathpura area recently following a diarrhoea outbreak triggered by the consumption of contaminated water.

Yadav is also the guardian minister of Indore, ranked as the country's cleanest city.

The Opposition Congress, which has sought the resignation of MP Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya in whose constituency the tragedy took place, is scheduled to hold a massive protest over the water contamination deaths in Indore on Sunday.

Addressing a high-level meeting at the airport here after returning from a visit to Sagar district, CM Yadav on Saturday launched a state-wide 'Swachh Jal Abhiyan' (Clean Water Campaign) aimed at ensuring safe drinking water in both rural and urban areas, a government statement said.

He said the quality of drinking water must be tested regularly and alternative arrangements should be made immediately if contamination is detected.

"This is a big challenge, but it must be addressed with seriousness so that the state can set an example for the country," Yadav added.

The chief minister said the government was committed to better management to provide pure drinking water to all and called upon public representatives and officials to discharge their responsibilities efficiently.

The Clean Water Campaign will be conducted in two phases - the first from January 10 to February 28 and the second from March 1 to March 31.

As part of the initiative, 'Jal Sunwai' (water grievance hearings) will also be organised to address drinking water-related issues of citizens, the CM said, asking officials to take these hearings seriously.

Yadav directed that all pipeline leakages be repaired promptly to ensure safe drinking water from a public health perspective and stressed that clean water should reach every household.

He appreciated the use of a mobile application by the urban administration department for monitoring the initiative.

Warning of strict action, the chief minister said any laxity in the supply of clean drinking water would not be tolerated.

The campaign, launched through video conferencing, focuses on water security, its conservation and grievance redressal. It includes cleaning of all water purification units and drinking water storage tanks, with monitoring through a GIS-based mapping application.

Under the initiative, water and sewage pipelines will be mapped on GIS platforms, interconnection points will be identified, and leakages will be checked, including through robotic inspection. Regular testing of drinking water sources and monitoring of sewage treatment plants will also be undertaken.

The government has also made special arrangements to register drinking water-related complaints on the helpline number 181. Applications related to drinking water problems will be resolved within a stipulated time frame and applicants will be informed accordingly.

Vijayvargiya, mayors, district panchayat presidents, divisional commissioners, collectors, municipal commissioners, CEOs of district panchayats and public representatives from urban and rural areas participated in the meeting via video conferencing.

Additional Chief Secretary for Urban Development and Housing, Sanjay Dubey, made a presentation on water security, conservation and grievance redressal, stating that continuous public awareness activities would be conducted through various media.

He said people would also be able to get water quality tested at nominal charges, and the initiative would be linked with the Swachh Bharat Mission, with support from health and women and child development departments.