Indore's contaminated water crisis offers critical insights for UPSC and state PCS exams, particularly in GS Paper 3 (Environment, Disaster Management) and GS Paper 2 (Governance). It underscores urban infrastructure failures, public health vulnerabilities, and administrative lapses in a model city.
Governance and Accountability Issues
A sewage leak from a police outpost toilet into the Narmada drinking pipeline due to contractor negligence highlights poor urban planning oversight. Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) delayed response despite resident complaints of foul water, leading to 9 deaths and 272+ hospitalizations.Suspension of three officials and CM's ₹2 lakh aid reflect reactive governance, raising questions on Swachh Bharat Mission implementation in sanitation.
Public Health and Disaster Management
Bacterial contamination (E. coli likely) triggered acute watery diarrhoea, treatable yet fatal without timely intervention. Door-to-door surveys, ASHA worker mobilization, and tanker supplies activated post-crisis, but exposed gaps in early warning systems like water quality monitoring under Jal Jeevan Mission. For PCS aspirants (e.g., MPPSC), it links to state-specific urban health schemes; nationally, it ties to SDG 6 (Clean Water) and NDMA guidelines on waterborne outbreaks.
Environmental and Infrastructure Dimensions
Despite 8 Swachh Survekshan awards, aging pipelines and unchecked construction faults reveal superficial cleanliness versus systemic sanitation deficits. Exam relevance: Urban flooding/sewage risks in GS3 Environment; policy failures in AMRUT 2.0 for smart cities. Climate change exacerbates such vulnerabilities via erratic water supply.
Exam Preparation Tips
- Prelims: Focus MCQs on waterborne diseases (cholera, typhoid), schemes (JJM, SBM), Swachh rankings.
- Mains: Analyze via case study: "Indore crisis questions efficacy of urban governance models" (150/250 words). Link to federalism (state vs local bodies).
- Sources: PIB releases, NITI Aayog urban reports; compare with past crises (e.g., Delhi waterlogging).
Indore water crisis yields more prelims/mains fodder for UPSC/OPSC/MPPSC, focusing on health policy, federalism, environment. Here are 4 fresh Prelims MCQs and 3 new Mains Qs with model answers, building on prior set for comprehensive prep.
Prelims Questions
Q1: Consider the following pairs related to Indore crisis response:
1. Pipeline flushing — IMC Zonal Officer
2. Door-to-door surveys — ASHA Workers
3. Status report — MP High Court
Which is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Flushing by engineers; ASHA surveys key; HC PIL mandated report by Jan 2. Tests schemes integration.
Q2: Swachh Survekshan primarily evaluates:
(a) Water quality indices
(b) Solid waste management and ODF status
(c) Sewerage treatment capacity
(d) Groundwater recharge
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Indore topped via visible cleanliness; crisis exposed hidden gaps. Annual MoHUA ranking.
Q3: Which pathogen family is most associated with faecal-oral transmission in contaminated water outbreaks like Indore?
(a) Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli)
(b) Vibrio spp.
(c) Plasmodium spp.
(d) Influenza viruses
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Lab-confirmed bacteria; boiling kills. GS3 health basics.
Q4: Under which mission was Narmada water supplied to Indore?
(a) Namami Gange
(b) Jal Jeevan Mission (urban component via AMRUT)
(c) Atal Bhujal Yojana
(d) National River Linking Project
Ans: (b)
Explanation: AMRUT/JJM pipelines; leak during maintenance.
Mains Questions and Model Answers
Q1 (GS3, 10 marks): Assess the role of local bodies in preventing water crises, using Indore as example. (150 words)
Model Ans: ULBs like IMC bear primary sanitation duty (74th CAA), yet Indore crisis from unchecked leak killed 9.Failures: Tender delays, poor monitoring despite Swachh tag.
Role: Proactive testing (BIS standards), infra audits. Positives: Tanker response, surveys.Challenges: Funding (15th FC grants), capacity.
Strengthen via devolution, tech (IoT sensors), PPP. Ensures resilient cities. (98 words)
Q2 (GS2, 15 marks): "Reactive governance undermines Smart City aspirations." Substantiate with Indore contamination case. (250 words)
Model Ans: Indore's Smart City status clashed with crisis: Sewage mix-up, delayed alerts despite complaints.Reactive: Post-death suspensions, aid; no early fix.
Undermines: AMRUT goals (universal water); exposes siloed depts. Federal angle: State oversight needed for ULBs.
Solutions: Integrated Command Centres, citizen reporting apps, annual audits. Aligns with NITI's sustainable urbanisation. Case mirrors Delhi Yamuna foam. (112 words; add diagrams for edge)
Q3 (GS3/Environment, 10 marks): Discuss environmental governance lessons from Indore for climate-resilient water systems. (150 words)
Model Ans: Crisis links urbanisation-climate risks: Leaks worsen scarcity, pollution.Lessons: (1) Climate-proof pipes (drought-resilient); (2) STP integration SBM. Data-driven via CPCB portals.
Broader: SDG6 integration, sponge cities model. Indore pivot: Post-crisis flushing, monitoring boosts resilience. (72 words)