Nagpur Water Crisis: 50 Localities Face Contaminated Supply

Officials from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Orange City Water (OCW) have admitted that nearly 50 localities across 9 civic zones are grappling with contaminated drinking water. This alarming disclosure came during a high-level review meeting convened by Mayor Neeta Thakre, addressing numerous complaints of foul-smelling and discoloured water. The contamination was linked to multiple elevated service reservoir (ESR) command areas.

Glaring lapses in monitoring, maintenance, and quality control were highlighted as major contributors to the crisis. Specific areas across various zones, including Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Dhantoli, Nehru Nagar, Gandhibagh, Satranjipura, Lakadganj, Ashi Nagar, and Mangalwari, have reported polluted water. Hanuman Nagar zone is the only area currently unaffected.

Mayor Thakre expressed serious concern over pipeline leakages, potential sewer cross-connections, and inadequate chlorination. She mandated the administration to immediately identify contamination points and reinforce water testing protocols to ensure a sufficient and non-polluted supply to the affected residents. The issue gained urgency following reports of approximately 50 residents falling ill in Mankapur due to contaminated water.

In a related development, OCW replaced a 250-metre water pipeline in Mankapur after a collapsed sewage chamber was identified as the source of contamination. This repair aims to restore and stabilize the supply network, with clean water expected for remaining households from Thursday onwards.