Water scheme’s execution on thin ice as supply system struggles to stay afloat

Bhopal: Serving nearly 2 million residents, the civic body's water wing is struggling to keep pace with demand. The Amrut 2.0 assessment compounds the concern, noting that water supply projects under the scheme are moving at a sluggish pace. Of the Rs 735 crore sanctioned, barely 6% has been utilised, underscoring delays in execution. The latest administrative report by Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) itself lays bare the fragility of the city's water supply system— just 60 tankers and 72 booster pumps are tasked with sustaining non-piped areas across 85 wards and 21 zones— leaving thousands dependent on erratic deliveries from distant pipelines.Distribution too remains strained, with 86 km of mains channelling water to 62 tanks. Chlorination is carried out at six intake wells, supported by bi-hourly testing. Yet the report raises red flags: No ward-wise coverage data, no peak demand metrics, and incomplete household connections, despite 95% digitisation of property and water tax records. Technology upgrades, including SCADA integration and the BMC Monitor App, promise improved telemetry, but rollout specifics and results remain unclear. A TOI report, dated Feb 4, 2026, flagged that SCADA only monitors water flow and not quality of water and leakages. Without faster progress on Amrut 2.0 projects, the city risks widening disparities between piped and non-piped areas, leaving the entire water supply system vulnerable as we head towards peak summer demands.