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According to news agency PTI, a bench of Justices Shiv Kumar Singh (judicial member) and Ishwar Singh (expert member) passed the order on Thursday, January 15, after hearing a petition filed by environmental activist Kamal Kumar Rathi.
The tribunal held the state government, Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board and all urban local bodies responsible for ensuring access to safe drinking water.
Senior advocate Harpreet Singh Gupta, appearing for the petitioner, told the tribunal that the level of fecal coliform in Bhopal’s ponds has reached a dangerous concentration of 1,600 ml. According to PTI, he argued that leaking sewage lines were contaminating drinking water pipelines, which is a direct violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life.
Panel composition and timeline
Considering the seriousness of the issue, the Green Bench directed the formation of a committee which will submit its findings within six weeks.
“The committee includes an expert nominated by the director of IIT, Indore, representative of Central Pollution Control Board, Bhopal, principal secretary of the state environment department, principal secretary of urban administration and development department, representative of water resources department and representative of MP Pollution Control Board as the nodal agency,” Gupta was quoted as saying by PTI.
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The tribunal also directed that copies of its order be distributed to all district collectors and municipal commissioners across Madhya Pradesh to ensure immediate compliance.
Indore incident raises concern
The NGT highlighted the serious public health and environmental risks posed by contamination of municipal water supplies, citing Indore as a prime example.
During December 2025, highly contaminated water was supplied through civic pipelines to residents of Bhagirathpura, leading to a major outbreak of water-borne diseases.
The event caused mass hospitalization, with many patients admitted to intensive care, and resulted in several deaths, including infants and the elderly.
Statewide instructions on water safety
The tribunal issued detailed directions to ensure supply of clean drinking water across the state. These include the creation of a robust management information system and a mobile application for sharing water quality reports, supply schedules and grievance redressal mechanisms.
GIS-based mapping of drinking water and sewage networks has been ordered to identify contamination points.
According to PTI, the NGT has also mandated pre-chlorination, post-chlorination and aeration of water, regular cleaning of overhead tanks and sumps, immediate pipeline repairs, removal of encroachments around water bodies and strict action for non-compliance.
Measures such as rainwater harvesting, rationing during shortages, ban on idol immersion in drinking water sources and shifting of dairies outside the city limits were also directed. The next hearing is to be held on March 30.