Citizens have not been allowed to use the lake for over 8 months after its completion
Naroda Lake, one of the most ambitious projects in East Ahmedabad, has been waiting for inauguration for more than eight months after completion. The reason is believed to be a dispute between the contractor and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Both, contractor and the civic body, attributed the delay in inauguration to lack of building usage (BU) permission. However, the dispute between contractor and the civic body in construction of zonal office in east zone is responsible for the delay, according to sources.
AMC had awarded contract to Karia Builders Pvt Ltd to develop Naroda Lake on build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis in April 2006.
The project was completed well within the time limit of three years stipulated by the civic body in tender conditions. Moreover, it was to be inaugurated by the chief minister Narendra Modi in November 2009. However, the project is still lying unused. SK Langa, deputy municipal commissioner of north zone of AMC, said that building usage permission is needed because of construction work and toy train. "The file was submitted for BU permission, there were a few things missing. However, we have submitted the missing documents," he said.
Deepak Karia of Karia Builders Pvt Ltd said he had completed the work of the project well within the stipulated time limit and is waiting for BU permission as well as fixing ticket charges. "As I have to operate and maintain the project for 10 years, I am not willing to take any risk to start it without obtaining BU permission," said Karia.
He also said the onus of taking the required permission is on the civic body. In November, the process of granting BU permission was almost completed, he said.
Sources said that root cause of delay lies in dispute over distribution of shops in lieu of construction of zonal office at Viratnagar and two plots to be handed over to the Karia Builders in lieu of development of Odhav lake in 2003.
The people of Naroda and surrounding areas were very pleased when the project was announced and also when it was near completion and date was informally announced because they do not have any public places for entertainment in the surrounding areas.
"The people of Naroda and surrounding areas have to visit Kankaria, which is time consuming," said Manoj Suthar, a resident of Naroda area. He said that with inauguration of newly developed Naroda Lake the residents could enjoy it.
Vallabh Patel, corporator from Naroda, said that the lake should be inaugurated as early as possible in best of the interest of people of this area.
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