In a stark reminder of the enduring legacy of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, a fresh conflict over access to clean drinking water erupted in the city on Friday. Municipal authorities moved to sever water connections deemed illegal in a colony housing survivors, forcing residents to confront the terrifying prospect of consuming contaminated groundwater.
A Morning of Confrontation in Brij Vihar
A team from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) arrived early at the Brij Vihar Colony in the Nishatpura locality. Their mission was to disconnect water lines that residents had drawn from a nearby Narmada pipeline. The colony, home to approximately 70 households, is situated in an area severely impacted by the historic gas disaster.
The residents vehemently objected to the BMC's action. They argued that they are entitled to a free water supply under a Supreme Court order, which identified their colony as one of 42 colonies where groundwater is contaminated. Without the Narmada pipeline connections, their only alternative would be toxic local water sources.
The Heart of the Dispute: A Hefty Connection Fee
Resident Mayank Pal explained the community's plight. While the Supreme Court mandated free water, the BMC is demanding a hefty sum of Rs 10,000 to provide an official connection, citing the colony's status as a private settlement. "We are ready to pay the monthly water cess of Rs 280," Pal stated, "but arranging Rs 10,000 for the connection is impossible for us."
Activist Rachna Dhingra, who intervened on behalf of the residents, clarified the legal standing. She confirmed that the colony is indeed entitled to free water. Previously, when the issue was raised with the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee, a water tank was arranged for the colony. However, Dhingra pointed out that fetching water from a communal tank is impractical for daily needs, which led people to tap into the adjacent Narmada pipeline for survival.
A Temporary Reprieve Amidst Ongoing Uncertainty
The BMC team proceeded to cut the connections, escalating tensions. The residents' warning that they would be forced to drink 'poisonous' groundwater prompted a swift, if temporary, resolution. The connections were restored later the same morning, averting an immediate health crisis.
BMC Additional Commissioner Tanmay Sharma, present at the site, offered a different perspective. He noted that the colony came up years after the gas tragedy. "We can still consider giving them a connection," Sharma said, "but drawing water through illegal means is not proper in any case." This statement leaves the door open for negotiation but does not guarantee a permanent, affordable solution for the gas-affected families.
The incident highlights a critical failure in delivering a basic human right—safe water—to a community already burdened by a monumental industrial catastrophe. The standoff in Brij Vihar Colony underscores the persistent gaps in rehabilitation and the ongoing struggle for environmental justice in Bhopal.
