Phase 2 Of Chandola Lake Demolition: Around 500 Homes And 20 Religious Sites Removed
Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has intensified its efforts to clear illegal encroachments around Chandola Lake, launching the second phase of its large-scale demolition drive. On the second day of the operation, around 20 religious structures, including temples and mosques, were taken down, along with over 500 homes ranging from small huts to concrete houses.
On Day 2 (May 21), by noon, AMC teams had removed dozens of homes and religious sites. Siraj Mosque was razed early in the morning, while Ali Mosque, located near Lalla Bihari’s farm, was also demolished. These religious structures were built illegally. To prevent any clashes, personnel from the Crime Branch and local police were deployed.
The action began early on May 20, with a fleet of 35 Hitachi and 15 JCB machines deployed. In just one day, officials managed to demolish around 8,500 illegal structures built around the lake. The drive has cleared most of the encroachments from nearly 2.5 lakh square meters of land. Officials said the work could have been completed even faster, but the extreme heat caused some machines to break down, slowing the operation.
With thousands now left homeless, the demolition has sparked both concern and strong police presence to control crowds gathering around the site. To help those affected, the AMC has decided to offer alternative housing under the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) scheme, but only to those who can prove they were living in the area before December 2010. The decision was approved earlier this month, and over 3,800 people have already collected forms for housing allotments. The last date to submit the forms is May 31.
Chandola Lake is divided into two parts, Chhota Chandola (smaller section) and Bada Chandola (larger section). The current demolition drive is targeting the Chhota Chandola area, located in Isanpur. The municipal corporation says the goal is to restore and protect the lake by removing years of unplanned and unauthorized development.