Dozens of residents from Tawakkal Society in Sarkhej staged a loud protest outside the Amdavad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) South West Zone office in Prahladnagar on Wednesday, demanding urgent action to resolve the ongoing drinking water shortage and persistent waterlogging in their area.
The protest, led by local women and supported by members of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) city unit, included a sit-in demonstration. Protesters accused the civic body of neglect, stating that repeated complaints had failed to yield any results. Many said they were forced to depend on expensive bottled water, while civic officials continued to enjoy uninterrupted access to basic amenities at taxpayers’ expense.
“This is not just about water. The area has been plagued by basic civic issues that remain unresolved. We are merely demanding our fundamental rights,” said Shubham Thakar, a local social worker.
According to a media report, South West Zone Deputy Municipal Commissioner (DyMC) Mirant Parikh said the AMC was aware of the grievances. “The area in question falls under a draft town planning (TP) scheme, which complicates infrastructure development, including roads. However, we will ensure that roads are made motorable regardless of the TP status,” Parikh said.
He also acknowledged the water crisis and pointed to uneven distribution caused by unauthorised connections. “We will soon carry out a comprehensive drive to regularise water connections and ensure equitable supply,” he added.
Regarding drainage, Parikh stated that while the drainage lines extend only to the outer roads of Tawakkal Society, the AMC would undertake desilting work and deploy super-sucker machines to address drainage-related issues.
However, the civic body faced further criticism after reports emerged that journalists covering the protest were allegedly mistreated by security personnel. Eyewitnesses claimed that bouncers stationed at the zonal office pushed reporters away from Deputy Municipal Commissioner Mirant Parikh and allegedly manhandled a female journalist who was trying to get his statement. The incident has sparked outrage among the journalist community, with growing demands for an official apology from AMC.
With no resolution in sight, residents have warned of intensifying their agitation if their grievances are not addressed without further delay.