Asks it to adopt a uniform policy on illegal constructions, wants it to wait till impact fee law comes into effect.
The Congress has demanded that Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) adopt a uniform policy with regard to action taken against illegal constructions in the city.
A delegation of Congress that included Kalupur MLA Faruk Shaikh, Jamalpur MLA Sabir Kabaliwala and leader of opposition in the AMC Badruddin Shaikh, met deputy municipal commissioner of AMC, MS Patel, on Monday to represent their case.
The Congress delegation alleged that the civic body is targeting the minority dominated areas in removing illegal constructions. They alleged that the civic body has started demolition activity in some areas, while in other places illegal properties have been sealed. This accounts for violation of model code of conduct that has been in place because of by-election of Khadia assembly seat.
It is also believed that members of the delegation also asked the AMC to stop demolition taking into consideration possibility of impact fee law that is likely to be passed by the state government in the budget session. "The leaders of the Congress also said that the builders have assured them not to carry out illegal constructions," said sources close to the development.
The Congress leaders also stated that the poor people have to suffer because of demolition activity as they are paying the price of the house and the builders sneak underground after collecting money.
The deputy municipal commissioner MS Patel pooh-poohed the Congress claim by saying that the building collapse took place in the central zone and majority of the illegal constructions are in that zone, so the civic body has kept its focus on the zone. "Many people have constructed new buildings of poor quality under the pretext of renovation that needs to be removed," said Patel. He said that the civic body has taken into consideration only the security of the people while demolition.
Mayor Asit Vora said that the civic body has initiated action in these areas only because of people's demand. The people of the area themselves had complained against the builders, so there was no question of harassing any particular community. Similarly, standing committee chairman Bhupendra Patel also said that there was no communalism when it comes to removing illegal constructions. "If we would have been biased why would the civic body have carried out the sealing drive on CG Road," said Patel.
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