HM Amit Shah holds ‘Lok Darbar’, promises time-bound drainage plan after heavy rain

Ahmedabad, Aug 27 (IANS) Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said a robust and time-bound plan is being prepared to prevent waterlogging in Ahmedabad’s Bopal-Ghuma, Shela and surrounding areas even if the region receives rainfall of around 30 inches in future, as residents raised concerns over drainage, roads, drinking water and other civic infrastructure at a Lok Darbar.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation organised the Lok Darbar in the Bopal area for residents of the Ghatlodia Assembly constituency, and Shah, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Minister of State for Urban Development Darshana Vaghela, and Mayor Hitesh Barot attended.

The meeting came after heavy rainfall recently caused waterlogging in Bopal, Ghuma and neighbouring areas.

Shah said residents faced difficulties after unexpected rainfall of around 20-21 inches, and that ground-level planning for permanent rainwater disposal began the day after the floodwater receded.

“From the very next day after the water receded from the waterlogged areas, ground-level planning for the permanent disposal of rainwater was started,” Shah said.

He assured residents that a “robust and time-bound” plan was being undertaken so that water would not enter homes and housing societies even if around 30 inches of rain were recorded in the future.

The issue has remained a concern in the Bopal-Ghuma belt following the July rains, when heavy rainfall led to prolonged waterlogging in several residential societies.

Residents and housing society representatives raised issues related to stormwater drainage, roads and traffic management, drinking water pipelines, drainage lines, and zonal-level infrastructure.

Civic officials present at the meeting heard the representations and provided guidance on their proposed resolution.

Shah said a special arrangement had been made for a drinking water pipeline from Jaspur to Bopal, Ghuma, Shela and newly developed surrounding areas. “The pipeline would allow residents to receive an adequate supply of treated Narmada water,” he said.

He also said the area, which once had a gram panchayat, had undergone significant infrastructure development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, including Metro, AMTS, flyovers, drainage and sports complexes.

“The Central Government, state government and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation are serious about residents’ concerns and all written and oral representations made at the Lok Darbar would be addressed promptly,” he assured.

Patel said around 20 inches of rain had recently been recorded in Bopal and surrounding areas due to changes in seasonal rainfall patterns.

“The administration, under Shah’s guidance, had undertaken water disposal and relief measures during the episode and that stronger drainage and road infrastructure was being planned to reduce difficulties for residents during future monsoons,” he said.

He said a mini sports complex, an underpass, rainwater disposal infrastructure and adequate drinking water facilities had been provided in the Bopal-Ghuma area.

“Works including percolation wells for rainwater harvesting in private housing societies, RCC roads and paver blocks had also been approved and completed,” he said.

Patel also referred to the government’s water conservation drive, under which lake interlinking and the use of recharge borewells were being undertaken to conserve rainwater.

Although Bopal-Ghuma was merged into the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation later than several established parts of the city, Patel said efforts had been made to provide residents with civic amenities and corporation benefits comparable to those available elsewhere.

“The state government is committed to bringing prompt solutions to all reasonable problems raised by residents through this Lok Darbar under the direct guidance of the Union Home Minister,” he said.

Mayor Barot said the Lok Darbar aimed to establish direct communication with residents and representatives of housing societies and resolve local issues.

“After the recent heavy rainfall, the administration had remained engaged with residents, and that, based on a preliminary survey, repair and infrastructure works worth more than Rs 143 crore had been initiated through short-notice tenders,” he emphasised.

–IANS

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