AMC launches demolition drive at Vatva’s Vanarvat Lake to reclaim 58,000 sq m land

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Tuesday launched a drive to demolish encroachments around Vanarvat Lake in the Vatva area of the city’s south zone, aiming to reclaim nearly 58,000 square metres of land as part of an ambitious lake rejuvenation and interlinking project.

Civic officials said the drive targets unauthorised constructions spread across the lake periphery, including 430 residential units and around 30 commercial establishments. Heavy machinery, including 10 Hitachi excavators and five JCB machines, has been deployed to expedite the operation, with a significant police presence maintained to ensure law and order.

According to AMC officials, the encroachment clearance is a key component of a broader project to interlink Vanarvat Lake with Mahalakshmi Lake and Ropda Lake. The interlinking initiative is aimed at improving stormwater management, enhancing groundwater recharge, preventing flooding in low-lying areas, and restoring the ecological balance of the lake system in the Vatva region.

“Encroachments over the years have significantly reduced the effective water-holding capacity of the lake. Removing these structures is essential for long-term water management and environmental protection,” a senior civic official said.

The corporation has also stated that alternative rehabilitation arrangements are being made for families who were residing in the area before 2010, in accordance with prevailing government rehabilitation and resettlement policies. Officials said surveys and verification of eligibility have been carried out earlier, and eligible residents will be accommodated through appropriate measures.

However, the demolition drive was not without resistance. On Monday morning, tensions briefly surfaced near Gopal Park Society, adjacent to Vanarvat Lake, where a social function of a member of the Bharwad community was underway. A temporary pavilion and cooking area had been erected in a nearby open space.

Residents requested the authorities to pause demolition in that specific section until the afternoon, citing that preparations for the community meal were in progress. Considering the situation and to avoid unnecessary disruption, officials from the AMC’s Estate Department, in coordination with the police, decided to defer demolition at that spot until later in the day.

“There was a request from residents to allow the event to conclude. To maintain harmony, demolition in that particular area was postponed for a few hours,” an official said.

Meanwhile, during the encroachment removal process, a group of local women staged objections and attempted to obstruct the demolition. Police personnel intervened promptly, counselled the protestors, and cleared the area. Officials said the situation was handled without any major confrontation or use of force.

The AMC has maintained that the drive will continue in phases over the coming days, with adequate police deployment to prevent any untoward incidents. Civic authorities have reiterated that the action is being carried out in the public interest and in line with court directives and urban planning norms.

Residents, however, have expressed mixed reactions, with some welcoming the lake restoration effort while others voiced concerns over displacement and rehabilitation timelines.