Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Demolishes 925 Illegal Structures To Reclaim Isanpur Lake
Massive demolition drive clears decades-old encroachments in Ahmedabad.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, supported by a substantial police contingent, launched an extensive demolition operation on Monday morning to restore the original 96,000-square-metre expanse of Isanpur lake in eastern Ahmedabad. Officials revealed that nearly 30 per cent of the lake’s total area—approximately 28,800 square metres—had fallen victim to prolonged illegal encroachment, severely shrinking the water body and disrupting the local ecosystem.
Following the pre-Diwali demolition of 167 commercial establishments in the same vicinity, the current phase specifically targets 925 unauthorised residential structures that had mushroomed along the lake’s perimeter over decades. Deputy Municipal Commissioner Riddhesh Raval emphasised that the civic body adopted a measured approach by issuing multiple advance notices and conducting community consultations to prevent confrontation and ensure transparency throughout the process.
To facilitate a peaceful transition, AMC officials meticulously collected documentation from affected families to determine eligibility for rehabilitation under existing state housing schemes. Raval stated that the administration prioritised dialogue over coercion, which contributed to the majority of residents voluntarily relocating their belongings in the week leading up to the operation.
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More than 550 police personnel from various units were deployed across the site, with continuous aerial monitoring conducted through drones to maintain law and order. Zone 6 Deputy Commissioner of Police Bhagirathsinh Gadhvi confirmed that around 80 per cent of occupants had already vacated their homes prior to Monday, allowing bulldozers to commence work at dawn without significant resistance; the remaining families were seen shifting out as the drive progressed.
This operation, expected to span two to three days until the entire encroached area is cleared, represents the second major lake-reclamation effort in Ahmedabad this year. In April, authorities successfully freed 1.25 lakh square metres around Chandola lake in the Danilimda area, establishing a clear pattern of decisive action to restore the city’s vital water bodies and preserve urban ecological balance.
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