Indore water crisis: High Court asks how contamination became so severe that it ‘proved fatal to human life’

However, the state said the source of contamination had been traced and demolished. “The source of contamination has been traced and also demolished. It was a public toilet through which the contaminated water was being spread in the locality. The water became unfit for human consumption because of the toilet water. The point of contamination was the toilet,” the state submitted.

At this stage, the Bench asked on what basis the state was making the conclusion regarding the source. “On what basis has it been found that it became so contaminated that it resulted in casualties? Is there any report?… [Is it] on the basis of some expert’s report?” the Bench asked.

Further, Bagadia said all borewells dug along a small river called Kanh “get faecally contaminated”. He said Bhagirathpura was one of several affected localities. “Bhagirathpura, being one of the colonies situated on the bank of this Kanh river, is just one of those areas,” Bagadia said, adding that sewage mixing was the likely cause. “It looks as if the sewerage line, which was flowing towards Bhagirathpura, got mixed with the borewell water. So the borewell water gets contaminated,” he said.

Justice Shukla observed that the problem raised serious concerns about urban infrastructure. “This joint pipeline of sewage and water supply is not new in the city. We have noticed it all over, in all major towns. We don’t know why it has been done by the local authorities or by the government, but why has it become so severe here — this contamination — which proved fatal for human life?” the court asked.

Later in the hearing, Chief Secretary Anurag Jain placed official data before the court, stating that large-scale contamination had been confirmed through testing. “There are 51 tube wells which have been identified as having contaminated water. The water was tested, and there are water testing reports which actually reflect that E. coli was present,” Jain told the court.

Jain said the bacterial contamination led to widespread infection. “E. coli is something which actually led to the infection on a large scale,” Jain submitted, adding that stringent measures were taken. “All those 51 tube wells, or rather all the tube wells in the area — all 62 — were stopped for potable water. Initially, the water was being supplied from tankers,” he said.

Bagadia had questioned the state’s decision to merely transfer officers instead of suspending them.

He told the court that the then Municipal Commissioner, who was heading the Municipal Corporation when the incident occurred, had been rewarded with a higher post instead of being acted against.

“The then Municipal Commissioner, who was heading the Municipal Corporation when this debacle happened, has been given a higher-up post by making him the Managing Director of the Tourism Department. This is completely unacceptable,” Bagadia said.

Bagadia further argued that the constitution of a committee by the state was an “eyewash”. “This action is nothing but an eyewash, because it is only going to be the state authorities who will decide on the incorrect actions and inactions of the state government,” he told the court.

Responding for the state, the government advocate submitted that it was the state itself that had approached the court and placed on record documents showing that a high-level committee had been constituted. Reading from the communication, the counsel said, “If you will kindly see, senior-most officers have been included in this committee… So, there can’t be any reason to disbelieve the officers of the state government.”

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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