“Thousands of people of Maharana Pratap ward have been forced to consume contaminated water. For the past several days, the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) is supplying impure water due to the widespread damage to pipe lines in various locations. Sewage water is being provided to households through these damaged pipelines,” alleged area Corporator Jeetu Katare. Katare, while expressing deep concern over the dire situation, stated that citizens are receiving water that is not only unfiltered but also not treated. He said on one hand JMC is providing potable water for only 15 minutes while on the other it is supplying water through damaged pipelines. The Corporator said, “Area residents have already submitted a number of complaints about this issue to the senior officials concerned of the Municipal Corporation, including the Water Department, but no corrective measures have been undertaken yet. Thus, resulting in the increasing risk of waterborne diseases spreading due to contaminated drinking water.

 

Katare said about 25 to 30 years ago, the Housing Board had laid narrow supply lines in the ward, which have deteriorated over time. Instead of replacing them with newer and more robust pipes, the Municipal Corporation has neglected the crucial infrastructure need. Moreover, due to ongoing sewer line work for the past nine years, many pipes have been damaged in various locations. Katare said in the past, water was supplied to tanks through tube wells, but now these tanks lie dry and responsible officials are unwilling to conduct inspections. Refilling these tanks via tube wells or from river Narmada could provide clean water supply to Maharana Pratap Ward and neighbouring areas.