Severe water crisis in city:80–90% tube wells dry; low reservoir levels and uneven distribution worsen shortage

With nearly 45 days of peak summer still remaining, the city is facing a deepening water crisis. Around 80–90% of tube wells have dried up, triggering complaints from multiple wards. Residents are increasingly dependent on water tankers and limited municipal supply. Ward 63 is among the worst affected, including several upscale colonies. About 80% of tube wells have dried up here. In Agraval Nagar, nearly 90% of borewells have stopped functioning, while Janaki Nagar and Manish Bagh have reported 85% and 80% borewell failures, respectively. Only six tankers have been deployed for the entire ward, which is inadequate to meet demand. Water tanks underfilled, supply duration shrinks According to councillor Mridul Agrawal, the issue has been raised repeatedly with municipal authorities, but the situation remains unchanged. Water storage tanks are being filled only up to 2 to 2.5 meters instead of full capacity. As a result, residents receive water through taps for just 15 to 20 minutes a day. Meanwhile, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav chaired a review meeting with officials regarding the water crisis in Ward 82. Discussions included upcoming work under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme in Wards 70 and 82, as well as water supply schedules, tank filling durations, and distribution efficiency. Adequate supply on paper, shortage on ground The city receives approximately 350 million litres per day (MLD) of water, with over 60% supplied directly. Despite this, several areas continue to face shortages. Experts attribute the situation to uneven distribution, low water pressure, and the drying up of local groundwater sources. Tankers prioritized for Non-Narmada Areas Municipal officials said areas not connected to the Narmada water supply, as well as multi-storey residential zones, are being prioritized for tanker supply. “More tankers are being sent to areas where borewells have dried up. Ward 82 is also receiving additional tankers due to recurring water shortages,” said Abhishek Sharma, in charge of the municipal waterworks committee. Areas still without Narmada water supply Several parts of the city are yet to be connected to the Narmada pipeline network: