AMC Faces Opposition Heat Over Vastral Fire Response and Chandola Rehabilitation

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) general board meeting on Tuesday witnessed heated exchanges over the Vastral firecracker factory blaze and the rehabilitation of families displaced during the Chandola Lake demolition drive, with Opposition corporators accusing the civic administration of negligence and delaying rehabilitation.

The Opposition questioned why no civic officials had been suspended following the Vastral fire tragedy, which has claimed 12 lives, and warned of protests outside the official residences of the Mayor and Municipal Commissioner if houses are not allotted to eligible Chandola demolition victims.

Opposition questions accountability in Vastral fire

Danilimda corporator Shehzad Khan Pathan raised the Vastral fire incident in the House, alleging that civic authorities become active only after major tragedies.

Referring to the TRP Game Zone fire in Rajkot, he said the AMC had launched a citywide drive against gaming zones after that incident but claimed enforcement gradually weakened. He alleged that only after the Vastral fire did the Fire and Estate departments begin sealing illegal premises again.

Questioning the administration, Pathan asked why no official had been suspended or held accountable despite the deaths of 12 people in the fire.

Opposition seeks immediate housing for Chandola families

The Opposition also raised the issue of rehabilitation for families displaced during the Chandola Lake demolition drive, claiming that nearly one-and-a-half years after the demolition, affected families are still waiting for promised housing.

Pathan alleged that while the civic body had assured eligible families that they would receive homes under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing scheme, no allotments have been made so far.

He claimed many applicants had already submitted forms, deposited ₹7,500 through demand drafts and expressed willingness to pay instalments, but were yet to receive houses.

The Opposition demanded immediate allotment of homes and warned that if the issue remains unresolved, affected families would stage a protest outside the residences of the Mayor and Municipal Commissioner.

Demand for physiotherapy centre in Maktampura

Maktampura corporator Haji Asrar Beg urged the civic body to establish a modern physiotherapy centre in the ward, stating that most residents belong to economically weaker and middle-income families.

He said physiotherapy treatment at private hospitals is expensive, while government facilities such as V.S. Hospital and Sola Civil Hospital are located far from the area, making access difficult for local residents.

Beg requested AMC to develop a fully equipped physiotherapy centre in Maktampura to provide affordable treatment closer to residents.