AMC begins second phase of Chandola lake demolition drive

The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Monday commenced the second phase of its large-scale demolition drive around Chandola Lake, intensifying efforts to clear illegal settlements in the area.

The latest operation follows the clearance of 1.5 lakh square metres of land during Phase One earlier this year. A high-level meeting to review final preparations was held on Sunday, with top AMC officials and Police Commissioner G S Malik in attendance.

In Phase Two, the civic body aims to remove encroachments from an additional 2.5 lakh square metres, focusing on reclaiming public land overtaken by unauthorised structures – many of which obstruct roads, essential services, and civic infrastructure.

The area around Chandola Lake has become a hub for illegal settlements, with many reportedly occupied by undocumented Bangladeshi nationals.

In response to the sensitive nature of the operation and potential resistance from local residents, AMC and law enforcement have drawn up a comprehensive security plan. The operation is now being conducted with heavy police presence, including:

1 Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP)

1 Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl. DCP)

6 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs)

Several Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), Inspectors, and Sub-Inspectors

Over 3,000 total police personnel

25 companies of the State Reserve Police (SRP)

“Our primary task will be to ensure law and order during the demolition,” said Police Commissioner G S Malik. The operation is expected to continue over the next two to three days. The April demolition had seen minor clashes with residents, prompting authorities to further bolster security for this phase.

AMC officials have also stated that arrangements are in place to provide housing to eligible families displaced by the drive, as part of an ongoing urban resettlement initiative.

The Chandola Lake demolition drive is now among the largest anti-encroachment operations in Gujarat’s urban history. With a total of over 4 lakh square metres – approximately 100 acres or more than 75 football fields – being cleared across both phases, the initiative reflects an unprecedented move to restructure unregulated zones.

The AMC has officially linked many of the encroachments to undocumented Bangladeshi migrants, casting the operation into the broader debates of national security, illegal immigration, and urban governance. In 2025 alone, 250 Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested in Ahmedabad – 207 of them from the Chandola area – with over 200 already deported. This data has confirmed the area as a migrant hotspot, resulting in tighter surveillance and enforcement.

What began as a civic push to reclaim public land is now evolving into a politically charged operation with implications far beyond urban planning.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)