Madhya Pradesh HC Criticizes Government's Response to Indore Diarrhoea Outbreak
HC slams MP govt for 'insensitive' response to Indore diarrhoea outbreak affecting thousands.
Photo by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Key Facts
Affected: Nearly 5,000 people in Indore
Official deaths: 6, residents claim 17
HC directs Chief Secy to appear: January 15
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
GS Paper III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Potential question types: Analyzing the role of local governance in ensuring public health, evaluating the effectiveness of national water missions.
Visual Insights
Indore Diarrhoea Outbreak - Affected Areas
Map showing the location of Indore and highlighting the potential areas affected by the diarrhoea outbreak due to water contamination.
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More Information
Background
The provision of clean drinking water has been a long-standing challenge in India, predating independence. Historically, waterborne diseases have been a major public health concern. The British era saw some initial efforts in urban water supply, but widespread access remained limited.
Post-independence, successive Five-Year Plans emphasized water supply schemes, but implementation gaps and rapid urbanization often outpaced progress. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in 1992 devolved some responsibilities to local bodies, aiming for better local management. However, issues of funding, technical capacity, and corruption have continued to plague water supply initiatives, leading to recurring outbreaks of waterborne diseases, especially in rapidly growing cities like Indore.
Latest Developments
In recent years, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019, aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households by 2024. While JJM focuses primarily on rural areas, urban water supply is addressed through schemes like AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation). However, challenges remain in ensuring water quality monitoring, infrastructure maintenance, and addressing non-revenue water (water lost through leaks and theft).
The Indore outbreak highlights the need for stronger urban water governance, including regular audits, public awareness campaigns, and stricter enforcement of water quality standards. Future trends will likely involve greater use of technology for water management, such as smart water meters and real-time monitoring systems.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): 1. JJM aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households by 2024. 2. The mission focuses exclusively on providing piped water supply to households. 3. JJM is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: A
Statement 1 is correct. JJM aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households by 2024. Statement 2 is incorrect as JJM also includes other water sources. Statement 3 is incorrect as JJM is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
2. In the context of water governance in India, consider the following: 1. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments devolved some responsibilities related to water management to local bodies. 2. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) regulates and controls ground water development and management. 3. 'Water' is exclusively a Union List subject under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: A
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The 73rd and 74th Amendments devolved some water management responsibilities, and CGWA regulates groundwater. Statement 3 is incorrect as 'Water' is primarily a State List subject, with some aspects under the Union List (e.g., regulation of inter-state rivers).
3. Assertion (A): The Madhya Pradesh High Court criticized the state government's response to the Indore diarrhoea outbreak. Reason (R): The outbreak tarnished Indore's image as the country's cleanest city, indicating potential failures in public health infrastructure. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- B.Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- C.A is true but R is false
- D.A is false but R is true
Show Answer
Answer: A
Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why the High Court criticized the government's response. The tarnished image of Indore due to the outbreak highlights the failures in public health, prompting the court's criticism.