Indore Water Contamination Inquiry Finds Pipeline Maintenance Lapses, Missing Records
A judicial inquiry into the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident in Indore has identified significant lapses in the maintenance of the water supply network and the absence of critical records related to old sewer and water pipelines. Executive engineer Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava, who worked in the water supply department from 2013 to 2026, was held accountable for failing to ensure proper inspection, timely pipeline replacement and effective system monitoring.
The commission found that important records relating to sewer networks laid between 1990–1995 and water supply networks laid between 1999–2004 were unavailable. Original maps, alignment plans, engineering designs, work orders, measurement books, inspection records and completion certificates could not be produced. The inquiry recommended a separate detailed investigation into how records went missing and who was responsible for their preservation.
