Indore’s ponds ignored despite water crisis solution:Civic body plans ₹1,700 crore Narmada loan; experts warn city is missing low-cost sustainable option

The path to making Indore water self-reliant lies hidden in its 49 ponds, but authorities continue to ignore their potential. The Municipal Corporation is preparing to take a ₹1,700 crore loan for the ₹2,500 crore fourth phase of the Narmada project, even though restoring the city’s traditional water bodies could provide nearly one month’s free water supply every year. The city currently spends around ₹25 crore every month on electricity to bring Narmada water to Indore. Water experts say this expense could be significantly reduced if the ponds are revived. Dependence on Narmada could also come down by nearly 12%. If all ponds are restored to full capacity, they could recharge enough water to meet the city’s demand for 33 days. A Bhaskar investigation with water management experts found that 22 ponds located across Dhar Road, Ring Road, Khandwa Road and the Super Corridor have neither been properly demarcated nor maintained. On Dhar Road, the 11.8-acre Sinhasa-2 pond has completely disappeared, replaced by brick kilns. The 35.8-acre Bisnavada pond has shrunk to 27.32 acres, with even a Gram Panchayat building constructed in its catchment area. Along Ring Road, the 60.9-acre Pipalyahana pond has reduced to just 16.55 acres, while Nayata Mundla pond has shrunk from 22.6 acres to 2.97 acres. Nearly 17 acres around Limbodi pond are also encroached upon. Six ponds in the Super Corridor area, including Tigariya Badshah, Pipalya Kumar and Bhaurasla, are under threat, while the Bilawali pond area on Khandwa Road has also reduced significantly. According to water management expert Sudhindra Mohan Sharma, the city’s 49 ponds spread across 2,496 acres can collectively store nearly 15 MCM of water if restored to their original depth of three metres. This is enough to fulfil Indore’s water requirement for over a month. Experts say ponds not only reduce electricity costs but also improve groundwater recharge and maintain borewell levels. Unlike pipelines, which have a limited lifespan, ponds serve as permanent and sustainable water sources. Meanwhile, the fourth phase of the Narmada project faces major challenges. The ₹1,700 crore loan will increase financial pressure on the corporation, while nearly 20% of water in the current system is already lost through leakage. The corporation now has only 28 months left to complete the project before the 2029 deadline. To meet the target, nearly 1.8 kilometres of pipeline must be laid every day across the city. In addition, 550 kilometres of old pipelines need replacement and 40 new tanks have to be built — despite one tank itself taking nearly 18 months to construct.