Rise of commercial constructions in Khadia amid water shortage met with protests from residents

Ahmedabad is witnessing a constant rise in commercial construction in Khadia ward, causing the iconic ‘pols’ to be rapidly emptied. As more commercial units are established, their water usage increases, leaving the locals with very little water.

Residents are now alleging that over the past decade, several former MLAs, former corporators, current corporators, and municipal officials have played a major role in facilitating the conversion of residential houses into commercial warehouses, forcing long-time families to vacate.

In Devji Saraiya Pol, some residents who have been living there for more than 70 years have been grappling with a severe water crisis for the past two days. 

According to locals, old residential properties within the pol are being purchased and converted into silver-melting furnace units. As a result, the morning water supply  which is from 6-8 am, is contaminated with sewage and acidic waste. Residents claim they receive clean water for barely an hour each day.

Meanwhile, in Dedka ni Pol, commercial users have been granted official water connections by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC), allege the locals. Yet, the commercial users allegedly attempted to draw water from Devji Saraiya Pol’s supply line, further reducing the water available to residents.

With their access to water almost completely cut off, residents staged a protest. For the second consecutive day on Saturday, water did not reach the pol, prompting locals to express strong anger toward municipal authorities.