Ahmedabad: In areas adjacent to Ahmedabad city, approvals for new residential or commercial buildings are being given before underground networks for utilities are laid. Shela is a prime example of poor planning.Over the past decade, Auda (Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority) has approved over 50 residential/commercial projects around Club O Seven Road and VIP Road in Shela, where people have already moved in. Only now is Auda working on laying stormwater, drainage, and water networks. The slapdash nature of the works is causing gross inconvenience to residents of not only Shela but also of Bhat, Manipur, Godhavi, and Sanathal. State govt included Shela in Auda’s jurisdiction in 2009, but the authority did not lay a single stormwater line in 15 years. Auda planned a stormwater network in areas such as Ghuma, Shela, Godhavi, Manipur, Sanathal, and Telav with a loan from ADB. The Rs 135 crore project’s implementation was delayed by a year. Now, Auda has started work on underground utilities in Shela, including stormwater, drainage, and water networks. Auda approved large residential schemes in Shela’s TP Scheme No. 1, but now a Rs 240 crore drainage network project is being implemented. Due to Auda’s negligence, Shela, Sanathal, Telav, and Manipur face worsening waterlogging problems every monsoon. Development permissions were rapidly granted in Shela, Godhavi, Manipur, Sanathal, and Telav without establishing stormwater and sewer networks. On June 30, 2024, 4 inches of rain hammered Shela, flooding several localities. Now, Auda has developed a master plan with a loan from ADB to establish stormwater and sewer networks for Shela, Godhavi, Manipur, Sanathal, and Telav. Work has begun in these areas. Additionally, seven ponds in Shela, Ghuma, Manipur, and Godhavi are being connected to stormwater lines, and the water will be channelled to the Gota-Godhavi canal with seven water pumping stations. An Auda official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated, “Construction is increasing in areas like Shela, Manipur, Godhavi, Sanathal, and Telav. The lack of sewer and stormwater networks exacerbates waterlogging issues.” The official added, “A master plan was developed to address this, including a stormwater network with an ADB loan, covering approximately 19.7 sq km. AUDA will lay 49.4km of underground stormwater pipelines, 7.6km of RCC box drains, and establish seven stormwater pumping stations.” Another Auda official said, “Residential projects were approved in Shela’s TP Scheme No. 1, and people moved in. However, most of TP Scheme No. 2 and 3 areas in Shela, Manipur, and Godhavi remain open.”
