Gujarat: Ahmedabad civic body to survey rain-hit areas
Ahmedabad, July 31
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will conduct a citywide survey of properties damaged by the recent heavy rainfall and submit its findings to the Gujarat government for consideration of relief measures, Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel announced on Thursday as the civic body also intensified preparedness for another spell of extremely heavy rain forecast over the coming days.
Speaking after the weekly Standing Committee meeting, Patel said the corporation had approved an urgent resolution to assess losses suffered by residential property owners and businesses following widespread waterlogging in the city.
Under the plan, a three-member team comprising the Additional City Engineer, Deputy Tax Collector and Assistant Municipal Commissioner will be constituted in each of Ahmedabad's seven zones.
The teams will document the nature and extent of damage to affected properties. Patel said the Municipal Commissioner had also been authorised to deploy additional personnel wherever required to complete the exercise.
"The survey will collect details of the losses suffered by property owners and traders due to rainwater inundation. Based on the findings, all information will be compiled, and a proposal will be sent to the state government," Patel said.
The Standing Committee also approved a revision in the rental rates for AMC-owned plots leased for commercial and service activities.
"The corporation currently leases more than 695 such plots and the revised rent structure, proposed by the Municipal Commissioner, had been approved with amendments," he said.
As the India Meteorological Department has forecast extremely heavy rainfall in the coming days, the civic administration said it had placed its entire disaster response machinery on high alert.
Under the supervision of Mayor Hitesh Barot and the monitoring of Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, officials across all zones have been directed to maintain round-the-clock surveillance of the weather situation.
AMC said dewatering pumps, machinery and field teams had been deployed in areas vulnerable to waterlogging to enable immediate drainage of accumulated rainwater.
Zonal officers and departmental staff have been instructed to remain in the field and take prompt action wherever necessary.
The corporation also said all lakes, canals and pumping stations are under continuous monitoring. Water will be released from lakes in a regulated manner, if required, to maintain storage capacity and reduce the risk of urban flooding.
Pumping stations and sewage treatment plants across the city remain operational, with maintenance and technical arrangements being carried out as per contingency plans.
As a precautionary measure, AMC announced the closure of schools and colleges, while anganwadis will remain shut until Monday.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and work from home wherever possible to reduce traffic movement during adverse weather conditions.
The civic body said special attention was being given to low-lying and vulnerable localities, where field teams are conducting continuous patrols.
"Desilting of the Gota-Godhavi Canal in the Gora-Ghuma area had been completed, improving its water-carrying capacity ahead of the expected rainfall. High-capacity pumps are also being used to lower water levels in the Gota-Godhavi lake by discharging water through canals and drainage lines," officials said.
AMC said its Central Control Room, zonal control rooms and various departments were working in coordination to ensure a swift response to any emergency.
Municipal schools have also been kept ready to accommodate residents evacuated from low-lying areas, while arrangements for temporary shelter, food and other essential assistance have been made if required.
The Standing Committee also reviewed rehabilitation measures for families displaced during the demolition drive at Chandola in April. Patel said 2,231 applications had been received from displaced residents seeking housing.
Under the state's 2010 rehabilitation policy, applicants must produce any two of four documents-an Election Card, Aadhaar Card, Ration Card or electricity bill-to qualify.
"Of the total applicants, 413 met the eligibility criteria, and their proposals have been forwarded to the state government. Houses will be allotted after the government issues its decision," he said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Another survey, another report... will it actually lead to compensation? My uncle's shop in Sabarmati was flooded for three days, and he lost thousands of rupees worth of stock. The civic body should have done desilting work before the rains, not after. Hope this time is different.
Good to see proactive measures like school closures and round-the-clock monitoring. In Mumbai, we often react after flooding occurs. Ahmedabad's approach of pre-positioning pumps and clearing canals is commendable. Hope the forecast isn't too severe.
While I appreciate the preparedness, I'm concerned about the 413 families from Chandola who still haven't got housing. They were displaced months ago, and now with heavy rain, they're even more vulnerable. Rehabilitation should be prioritised alongside disaster response. Jai ho Gujarat 🙏
Nice to see the AMC taking a systematic approach with three-member teams per zone. The rental revision for AMC plots also makes sense after so many years. Let's hope the dewatering pumps work better than last year when many areas were flooded for days.
Every year same story - rains come, waterlogging happens, surveys are announced. The real issue is urban planning - concretisation, clogged drainage, and encroachments on lakes. AMC should focus on long-term solutions instead of temporary band-aids like dewatering pumps. Just my two rupees. 😕
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