Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani has strongly criticised civic officials over alleged irregularities in Ahmedabad’s stormwater drainage system, holding internal lapses and illegal connections responsible for recurring waterlogging during the monsoon season.
During a weekly review meeting with senior officials on Wednesday, the municipal commissioner reportedly said that delayed rainwater drainage in several parts of the city was largely due to failures within the civic administration itself.
According to officials present at the meeting, Pani pointed out that stormwater drainage lines had been laid across Ahmedabad at a cost of crores of rupees, but illegal connections had been allowed into the network, reducing its effectiveness.
“You have given illegal connections in the stormwater lines. First remove the illegal connections you have given,” the commissioner reportedly told officials during the meeting.
The matter was discussed while reviewing pre-monsoon preparedness and cleanliness-related work being carried out by the corporation. Officials were instructed to combine ongoing cleanliness survey activities with pre-monsoon operations to ensure both tasks are completed together.
During the meeting, City Engineer Vijay Patel from the Water Resource Management Department was asked to present details of the work completed under the pre-monsoon action plan. The commissioner reportedly expressed dissatisfaction after learning that several projects were still pending.
Pani also directed officials to remove all unauthorised connections from the stormwater network and ensure drainage lines are properly connected to ponds, lakes and natural water outlets for faster rainwater disposal.