Water at Madhya Pradesh CM’s Event: Turbidity 37 Times Above Limit, Testing Incomplete
Water supplied during a programme of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav in Shajapur district on April 30 has been found to contain dangerously high turbidity levels, according to a state research laboratory report. The incident comes months after contaminated water in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area claimed several lives, highlighting ongoing concerns over drinking water safety in the state.
Documents obtained by NDTV include the lab report, a letter from the Superintendent of Police (Security) attached to the Chief Minister’s security establishment, and a show-cause notice issued by the Ujjain Divisional Commissioner. Together, they point to lapses at multiple levels—from the supply of substandard water to incomplete testing and limited accountability.
The water sample showed turbidity of 36.8 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). The desirable limit for drinking water is 1 NTU, and the permissible limit is 5 NTU. The level was nearly 37 times the desirable limit and more than seven times the permissible limit.
According to the letter from the SP (Security), the district administration had arranged drinking water and food items for the Chief Minister’s visit to Semliya Ashram. Suspicion arose during consumption, prompting the medical officer from the Chief Minister’s residence to send samples for testing via the food safety officer in Bhopal.
On May 18, Ujjain Divisional Commissioner Ashish Singh issued a show-cause notice to Shajapur District Excise Officer Vinay Rangshahi, who was responsible for VIP food and other arrangements. The notice stated that the water provided was “qualityless and not drinkable” and called it “serious negligence”. However, no major disciplinary action has been taken so far. Rangshahi was transferred to Khandwa as district excise officer, which the Excise Department described as routine.
Water quality expert Dr Subhash C. Pandey flagged a further failure: the laboratory did not test for dissolved oxygen, heavy metals, bacteriological parameters, or pesticides. “The very parameters that should have been checked were omitted,” he said. This means the report, while confirming high turbidity, does not reveal the full extent of potential contamination.
The Chief Minister has Z-plus security cover, which includes strict standard operating procedures for food and water safety. The security team is responsible for ensuring compliance, including certification of food and beverages before serving. The current incident suggests gaps in protocol enforcement.
