AMC officials under scanner over alleged irregularities in heritage property cases

The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has come under scrutiny following allegations that illegal constructions and unauthorised commercial use in heritage properties were regularised by collecting impact fees, with the Estate and Town Planning Department bypassing mandatory conservation procedures instead of protecting them under existing norms.

The controversy pertains to heritage homes in Ahmedabad’s outer and central zones, where officials are alleged to have permitted additional construction and change of use by collecting impact fees and issuing certificates, bypassing prescribed procedures.

One of the most cited cases involves a heritage property in Ghanchini Pol in the Khadia area. According to sources, permission was initially granted for the renovation and restoration of the structure. However, the property was subsequently converted for commercial use, and the construction was later regularised through the collection of impact fees.

Officials said that in cases involving heritage structures, any additional construction or change of use requires prior clearance from the heritage department and the heritage conservation committee. However, these procedures were allegedly not followed in several instances.

Following complaints, an internal inquiry was initiated by the civic body, which reportedly found irregularities in at least five heritage properties in the city’s Kot area. The probe indicated that constructions were regularised despite violations, with impact fees being collected without due process.

The heritage department has submitted a representation to the deputy municipal commissioner of the central zone, stating that impact fees were levied without adhering to legal requirements. The matter has been under investigation for several months, with officials examining multiple cases of alleged unauthorised regularisation.

Sources within the corporation claimed that the inquiry report has been prepared but not formally submitted to senior authorities, raising concerns about possible attempts to shield those involved. No police complaint or disciplinary action has been reported so far.

Ahmedabad was designated a UNESCO World Heritage City in 2017, placing added emphasis on the conservation of its historic structures. Under existing norms, alterations to listed heritage buildings require prior approval from the municipal heritage authorities, and incentives such as Transferable Development Rights (TDR) are provided to promote preservation.