Indore Water Contamination: MP High Court Directs Municipal Corporation To Ensure Pure Water Supply, State To Provide Treatment To Affected

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday (December 31) directed the Indore Municipal Corporation to ensure the supply of clean drinking water to the residents of Bhagirathpura locality in Indore city.

These observations were passed by the division bench of Justice Rajesh Kumar Gupta and Justice BP Sharma in a petition highlighting the serious public health emergency related to the supply of unsafe and contaminated drinking water, resulting in mass illness and loss of human life.

It directed;

"By way of interim measure, the Municipal Corporation of Indore is directed to ensure supply of clean and pure drinking water to the residents of the affected areas and take all possible steps to supply clean water on regular basis. So far as treatment of the affected persons who are admitted in various hospitals is concerned, the State will take care of them and they would be given best treatment. Since the Municipal Corporation, Indore has already ensured that they will provide clean and pure drinking water in the affected areas and the State has already ensured to provide the best medical facilities to the affected persons who are admitted in various hospitals, the State and Corporation are directed to file a detailed status report on the next date of hearing in which they shall clearly mention that how many persons are affected and admitted in the hospitals and what medical facilities are being provided to them".

Per the news reports published, eight people, including elderly citizens, have died due to the water. Additionally, more than 1100 residents were affected within a short span of time, out of whom over 110 required hospitalization.

Per the petition, the authorities failed to take action despite repeated complaints filed by the residents regarding foul smell and discolouration.

The petition claimed that the actions of the authorities resulted in a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution. It sought directions to make sure that the residents are supplied with clean drinking water.

In today's hearing, the counsel for the Municipal Corporation argued that 20 water tankers were supplied in the affected area regularly. The counsel also assured that authorities would ensure there would be no shortage of clean water in the affected areas.

The counsel for the State argued that the treatment of the affected residents would be borne by the Government, and directions for this were given to the concerned hospitals and doctors.

The court, while listing the matter for January 2, 2026, directed the Indore Municipal Corporation to ensure that clean drinking water is supplied to the affected areas and to provide the best possible medical facilities to the hospitalised residents.

Case Title: Ritesh Inani v State [WP-50628-2025]

For Petitioner: Advocates Ritesh Inani and Manish Yadav

For State: Additional Advocate General Rahul Sethi

For Intervenor: Advocate Abhinav Dhanodkar

For Indore Municipal Corporation: Advocate Shashank Shrivastava with Advocate Rishi Tiwari

Click here to read/download the Order