Bhopal water supply to be hit on January 4 as Kerwa plant shuts amid contamination concerns

Residents of Bhopal are bracing for a double challenge as fears over water contamination overlap with a complete water supply shutdown in several parts of the city on Sunday, January 4.

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed that the Kerwa Water Treatment Plant, one of the city’s key water supply sources, will remain non-operational for the entire day due to a scheduled power shutdown.

Why the water supply is being stopped

According to an official BMC press release, the Madhya Pradesh Power Distribution Company has planned a power shutdown from 10 AM to 4 PM to carry out maintenance work on the high-tension feeder line at Kerwa Dam.

Due to this, <u>water treatment and pumping operations at the Kerwa plant will be completely halted</u>, leading to supply disruptions across multiple neighbourhoods.

Areas that will face water disruption

The Kerwa Water Treatment Plant supplies large parts of BMC Zone No. 18 and Zone No. 19. The following areas are expected to experience no water supply or severe shortages:

Damkheda, Sarvadharma Colony, Amarnath Colony, Ambedkar Nagar, Mahabali Nagar, Sainath Nagar, Kanha Kunj, Good Shepherd, Danish Kunj, Rajharsh Colony, Ganesh Nagar, Om Nagar, Rajvaidya Colony, Sankhedi, Banshkhedi, Priyanka Nagar, Garib Nagar, 610 Quarters, Sumitra Parisar, and nearby localities.

Civic officials said restoration will begin only after power supply resumes and water treatment cycles are completed.

Why residents are concerned

The shutdown comes at a sensitive time when sections of the city are already on alert over water quality issues, intensifying public concern about health, hygiene and daily household needs.

Urban planning experts note that single-source dependency on major treatment plants makes cities vulnerable during maintenance-related outages, especially in high-density residential zones.

Official response from BMC

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation expressed regret for the inconvenience and appealed for public cooperation. Officials urged residents to store water in advance and use it judiciously until normal supply resumes.

They clarified that the disruption is preventive and technical in nature, linked solely to power infrastructure maintenance.

Why this matters now

Water supply interruptions directly affect public health, sanitation, schools, hospitals and small businesses. With temperatures rising and contamination fears already present, even a single-day shutdown can strain households and civic systems.

What to watch next

• Confirmation on exact restoration timelines after January 4 evening.

• Updates on water quality monitoring following the resumption of supply.

• Whether alternative water arrangements are announced for heavily affected areas.