Lack of water distribution network leaves Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation areas, thirsty

The newly-merged areas in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation are still thirsty due to lack of proper water distribution network. The residents of areas like Vejalpur, Sarkhej and New Ranip still await water supply connections from the civic body.

The civic body provides potable water through tankers in certain areas of Vejalpur that do not fall under the town planning schemes. Resident of the area, Nadeem Saiyad, complained that the water provided hardly suffices the requirement. "The tankers are not very regular and the amount supplied by the civic body is not enough for the huge population residing in the area," said Saiyad, who had also sought information about water distribution using Right to Information.

Under the water distribution map, the AMC has already made plans to cover these areas. However, they will have to wait till December 2011 to see these ambitious plans turn into reality. At present around 85% of the area falling under the AMC's purview is covered under water distribution. The civic body would spend around Rs93 crore for creating water distribution network.

Earlier, the civic body did not have enough land to set up water distribution stations in these newly-merged areas, which, however, has now been solved by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority who gave the civic body land to erect these stations, said an AMC official. He also said that a water distribution station would also be set up in Sarkhej ward.