Indore tragedy sparks contamination fears in city & last-minute clean-up drive

Raipur: The devastating water contamination crisis in Indore — which has claimed the lives of at least 10 people and sickened hundreds after sewage reportedly entered the city's drinking water supply — has sent shockwaves across central India and prompted a belated response in Raipur. In an unmistakably reactionary move on Sunday, Raipur Mayor Meenal Choubey directed municipal officials to step up vigilance over the city's water and sewage systems, warning that any lapse could lead to an Indore-style tragedy in the state capital.The Mayor, accompanied by former Cabinet minister and Raipur West MLA Rajesh Munat and RMC Commissioner Vishwadeep, conducted a 5-hour field inspection to review the progress of various public welfare projects.The team inspected the Sarona dumping yard, where approximately 80% of the waste was cleared using poklane machines. The MLA directed officials and the contractor to complete the remaining work at the earliest.The officials also inspected govt land near the Sarona Shitla Mata temple. The MLA and Mayor instructed the authorities to demarcate these vacant govt plots immediately and submit a formal plan to the state govt for public utility projects.During a visit to the 75 MLD Chandanidih Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) and its SCADA control room, instructions were issued to develop a plan to prevent sewage from flowing into the Kharun river. They also inspected the Chingri and Pihar drains."The objective is to ensure all sewage water reaches the STP for treatment. This treated raw water can then be sold to industrial groups, creating a permanent source of revenue for the Raipur Municipal Corporation," the MLA said.Meanwhile, the RMC water department initiated a clean, chlorinated drinking water supply to several residential areas under Maharishi Valmiki Ward after repairing a leakage near Vijay Nagar Chowk. The water works department teams and Zonal Offices 3 and 9 conducted door-to-door inspections on Sunday morning. The teams checked chlorine levels in households across Sales Tax Colony, Mahamaya Vihar, Pink City, Gayatri Nagar, and Vijay Nagar.Following instructions from Raipur Mayor Meenal Choubey, the inspection teams confirmed that all households are receiving clean water with adequate chlorine content. No complaints regarding contaminated water were reported during the drive.RMC officials directed zonal health officers of Zones 3 and 9 to launch a week-long intensive cleaning drive for all drains in the Maharishi Valmiki Ward. The staff was tasked with ensuring the smooth flow of sewage by removing silt and waste.Health officials were also instructed to report any water pipelines found running inside drains during the cleaning process. The water department aims to relocate these pipelines outside the drains on a priority basis to prevent contamination.The civic body emphasised the need for vigilance to prevent incidents of water-borne illnesses, citing recent health concerns in cities like Indore. Officials were told to maintain strict monitoring of the water distribution network.The RMC water department appealed to the residents of Maharishi Valmiki Ward to cooperate with the field staff of Zones 3 and 9 in identifying and shifting pipelines that currently pass through drains.