Indore protests water crisis, cops show water canons

INDORE, 25 MAY

India’s cleanest city Indore is parched. Desperate residents took to the streets to protest the water crisis even as mercury hit 41°C on Monday. The protests, which have been ongoing for days now, even saw a Congress councillor prostrate before police officials pleading for water. The protests witnessed peak irony when police brought water canons to disperse the protesters.

Sunday saw residents block many roads to protests against the municipal corporation. They say taps as well as bore-wells have run dry, even as the government boasts about making Indore a “Water Plus City” under Swachh Survekshan 2021. This prestigious certification is awarded by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to cities that successfully treat and reuse all wastewater before releasing it into the environment.

A viral video shows Congress Councilor for Ward 75, Raju Bhadoria, fall at the feet of officials and plead: “Sir, give us water, else people will die.” Angry residents sang “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” while carrying empty vessels to protest.