Ahmedabad: The estate TDO department of the South Zone of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) launched a mega demolition drive against illegal structures at Vanarvat Lake in the Vatva area on Tuesday morning.
A total of 54,883 square metres of land was cleared, and 450 structures located within the lake area were demolished.Encroachments on final Plot No. 40 of TP Scheme No. 88 (Vatva-2) at Vanarvat lake were previously served notices.
The removal operation involved 300 AMC employees, including officers from the estate, health, fire, and UCD departments, and medical vans, supported by 400 police personnel.The operation was divided into four blocks. Using machinery, including 10 Hitachi machines, about 450 residential and commercial structures were removed from the Vanarvat Lake area, resulting in 28,227 square metres of lake land being reclaimed. Additionally, 6,658 square metres of land was cleared in Final Plot No. 66, which is reserved for a garden under the TP Scheme.Furthermore, 190 structures were removed from the 18-metre- and 24-metre wide TP roads surrounding the lake. In all, the drive cleared 54,883 square metres of lake and reserved plot land, along with a 770-metre-long stretch of TP road.Following the action, 75 needy, displaced persons were safely relocated by AMC via AMTS buses to shelter houses located in Lambha and Narol. In the coming days, work to remove debris and waste will be undertaken to initiate the comprehensive development of the lake.AMC claims that under the Lake Interlinking Project, Vanarvat Lake will be connected with Mahalakshmi and Ropda lakes. This project is expected to resolve waterlogging in low-lying areas.
