Ahmedabad: In a first, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) has okayed a new policy that aims to choke the practice of illegal drainage connections. The policy slaps a penalty — 100% on drainage connection and maintenance charges — for residential societies and commercial buildings that set up illegal drainlines and legalize these only after obtaining a building use (BU) permission. The policy covers areas including Shela, Sanathal, Telav, Manipur, and Godhavi.Also, according to the new policy green-lit last week, societies and buildings that obtain drainage connections and do not pay maintenance charges within the stipulated time will be charged 18% annually on the outstanding amount.Auda has not raised the connection or maintenance charges. Under the new policy, drainage connection charges will be collected once. For units over 151 sq m, the charge is Rs 4,000 while maintenance charge is Rs 800. For units under 25 sq m, the charges are Rs 800 and Rs 160, respectively. For commercial units, the charge for the first 100 sq m is Rs 3,500 for drainage and Rs 875 for maintenance. Beyond 100 sq m, an additional Rs 3,000 for drainage and Rs 750 for maintenance per 100 sq m is charged. Officials said that absence of penalty on legalizing connections after the BU permission was obtained led to numerous illegal drainage connections in Auda areas. According to sources, in areas like Shela, where there is no drainage network, new buildings are given development permission with soak pits. In areas with a drainage network, illegal connections are hooked to these once the development permission is obtained, and the BU permission is yet to be applied for. These are legalized after BU. This way, societies and commercial buildings evade penalties. The practice has damaged existing drainage lines, and there is no provision to snip off illegal connections. Another major issue in Auda is illegal drain pipes connected to stormwater lines that empty into lakes.
