Next for Chandola: A water-filled lake

Ahmedabad: After the mega demolitions in the area around Chandola lake in the city's Danilimda area, work to clear debris from the razed illegal structures commenced on Friday. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) plans to clear obstructions between the small and large Chandola water bodies and gradually fill the entire lake with water. AMC and the city police force worked jointly over three days since April 29 to remove illegal structures around the Chandola lake, allegedly built by illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Additionally, work has begun to build a compound wall around the lake to prevent further illegal constructions. AMC officials said more demolitions are planned in the second phase.

An official in the civic body's estate department said, "In the first phase, approximately 4,000 temporary and permanent structures built by illegal residents, including Bangladeshis involved in unlawful activities, were removed from the land of Chandola lake. About 1.50 lakh sq m land was cleared.
"The process of removing illegal constructions from Chandola lake will continue in the coming days. The removal of debris from these demolished structures began on Friday afternoon. Once the debris is cleared, the lake will be gradually filled with water."
Sources added, "To fill the lake with water, it is necessary to remove the small and large embankments. This process has started. A compound wall is being constructed to prevent future encroachments. Additionally, a survey is underway to remove remaining encroachments. Those who built illegal structures have been ordered to remove them voluntarily. In the second phase, illegal constructions in the lake will be removed. Before this, electricity connections will be cut. Action will be taken under the Land Grabbing Act against those who do not voluntarily remove illegal constructions."