50 areas of high water contamination identified in Ahmedabad, ₹264 cr project to replace pipelines begins

The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has identified 50 high-risk areas where water pollution is rife in the city’s central zone and launched a ₹264 crore project to replace ageing water and drainage pipelines.

Civic officials said the replacement of more than 50-year-old water and sewer lines was underway across six wards in the central zone, including Asarwa, Shahibaug, Dariapur, Jamalpur and Khadia.

The project is expected to be completed by December 2027 and is likely to provide relief from water contamination problems to nearly one lakh residents in the affected areas.

Officials said the work was progressing slowly due to the narrow and congested roads in the old city areas, making excavation and pipeline replacement difficult.

According to civic engineers, many of the existing water pipelines in the central zone consist of decades-old cast-iron pipes with small diameters buried deep underground.

In several locations, water pipelines are situated below drainage lines, increasing the risk of contamination due to corrosion caused by chlorine and declining water pressure.

Officials said low water pressure in old pipelines increases the possibility of polluted water entering the supply network.

As part of the project, AMC is replacing old drainage lines with new pipelines of appropriate gradient and changing pipe diameters to improve water flow and reduce contamination risks.

Amit Patel, additional city engineer of the Central Zone, said special double-walled pipes were being installed to prevent damage caused by rats, which frequently create blockages in underground drainage systems.

“Due to rats in the drainage network across narrow lanes and streets, drainage lines and machine-hole chambers often get blocked. To avoid such problems for the next 15 to 20 years, double-walled pipes are being laid,” Patel said.

He added that around 33,300 metres of drainage lines and 26,200 metres of water pipelines had already been replaced across the six wards.

Among the high-risk localities identified by AMC are Jamalpur-Kachni Masjid, Labour Quarters, Ghazipir, Kumbharwado, Panch Peepli, Jamalpur Chakla and Munda Darwaja in Jamalpur ward; K K Shastri Nagar, Bordi Mill Ni Chali and Chunaravas in Khadia ward; and Juliawado, Police Line, Shahjahan Mohalla, Juna Danapith and Tata Mill Ni Chali in Shahpur ward.