GS IMPACT: Ahmedabad Water Tank Cleaning Under Scrutiny After Bones Found; AMC Orders Six-Monthly Checks

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has ordered regular cleaning of all city water tanks every six months after bones were found in a tank at the Asarwa Water Distribution Station.

The issue was raised at the AMC Standing Committee meeting after a Gujarat Samachar Digital report highlighted gaps in the city's water tank cleaning schedule.

Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel directed officials to ensure that every water tank is cleaned twice a year and that the work is continuously monitored.

Only 95 of 241 Tanks Cleaned in Six Months

A report published on October 6 found that only 95 of 241 water distribution station tanks had been cleaned during the preceding six months, despite the existing requirement for cleaning every six months.

As many as 125 tanks had been cleaned between six months and a year earlier, while 21 tanks had not been cleaned for more than a year.

This meant 146 of the 241 tanks had not undergone cleaning within the required six-month period.

During the Standing Committee meeting, Patel said Ahmedabad has 243 water tanks and that all are supposed to be cleaned twice a year according to a designated schedule.

He said cleaning of 96 tanks had now been completed under the current schedule and instructed officials to ensure that the remaining tanks are cleaned as required.

East Zone Had No Tank Cleaning in Six Months

The earlier data showed significant differences between zones.

None of the 42 water distribution station tanks in the East Zone had been cleaned during the six-month period. While 41 had been cleaned between six months and a year earlier, one had not been cleaned for more than a year.

In the North-West Zone, only nine of 36 tanks had been cleaned within six months. The West Zone recorded seven of 40 tanks in the same period.

The South-West Zone performed comparatively better, with 26 of its 28 tanks cleaned within six months.

21 Tanks Uncleaned for More Than a Year

The report found that 21 city tanks had not been cleaned for more than a year.

The North-West Zone accounted for seven such tanks, followed by six each in the West and North zones. One tank each in the East and South zones had also remained uncleaned for more than a year.

The figures raised questions over compliance with the AMC's six-month cleaning requirement and the monitoring of the cleaning schedule.

Bones Found in Asarwa Tank Triggered Questions

The issue came under sharper scrutiny after bones were discovered inside a water tank at the Asarwa Water Distribution Station.

The tank had reportedly last been cleaned in January 2025, raising concerns over how regularly water storage infrastructure was being inspected and maintained.

Following the report, the Standing Committee has now reiterated the requirement for twice-yearly cleaning and directed officials to monitor the process continuously.