MoHUA Acts to Prevent Urban Water Contamination

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has advised states to assess vulnerable areas and ageing infrastructure under the AMRUT scheme. This move addresses drinking water contamination issues in urban areas, following several deaths in Indore. The advisory includes digital mapping to identify sewer-water line intersections.

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has issued an advisory urging states to examine vulnerable areas and ageing infrastructure under its AMRUT scheme, aiming to prevent urban drinking water contamination. This advisory follows recent fatalities in Indore linked to contaminated water.

The advisory, issued in January 2026, calls for comprehensive assessments to identify intersections of sewer and water lines. The MoHUA recommends digital mapping using a geo-spatial database, as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu informed Lok Sabha.

The ministry also underscores that drinking water quality often suffers from outdated infrastructure. Through missions like AMRUT, the central government supplements state efforts in infrastructure rehabilitation, urging BIS standards compliance for urban water supplies.

(With inputs from agencies.)