Madhya Pradesh’s political temperature is rising as Congress unleashes a sharp critique against the state government over the Indore water disaster and MGNREGA overhauls. What began as a routine infrastructure lapse has snowballed into a full-blown crisis, exposing deep governance cracks.
Indore, the state’s commercial hub, was thrown into chaos last week when a critical water main ruptured, spewing filthy water across key neighborhoods. Power outages compounded the misery, leaving families without clean drinking water for over 72 hours. Congress leaders, including state president Jitendra Patel, have labeled it a ‘man-made catastrophe,’ citing ignored maintenance alerts and shoddy execution.
Simultaneously, amendments to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act have ignited fury in rural heartlands. Reduced guaranteed workdays from 100 to 50, coupled with biometric attendance mandates, are seen as barriers designed to dismantle the scheme. ‘The BJP wants to kill MGNREGA to benefit big corporates,’ charged senior Congressman Kamal Nath, highlighting how these moves exacerbate unemployment in a state already grappling with agrarian distress.
Data backs the opposition’s claims: Indore’s water board reported over 200 complaints in the preceding month, yet no preemptive action was taken. MGNREGA participation has dipped 15% post-reforms, per official figures. Congress plans statewide agitations, including dharnas at collectorates, to press for rollbacks.
The ruling BJP counters that MGNREGA changes promote ‘skill development’ and curb leakages, while Indore’s issues stem from aging pipes inherited from previous regimes. Yet, with social media ablaze with viral videos of stranded citizens, the government’s damage control appears faltering. As monsoon approaches, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both sides.
