For some areas which were included under the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation three years ago, better infrastructure and civic amenities still remain a distant dream.
While many areas on the outskirts of Ahmedabad city are waiting to be merged within the limits of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) so that they may avail of better infrastructure and civic amenities, for some areas including Ambli, Shilaj, Hebatpur and Gyaspur which were included under the civic body three years ago, such benefits still remain a distant dream.
The residents of the aforementioned areas had very high expectations from the AMC as far as infrastructure and civic amenities were concerned. Today, despite paying higher taxes, they are without a clue as to whom to contact and where to register their complaints with regard to problems of drainage, water and bad roads.
When these areas fell under the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), Gram Panchayats ensured civic amenities including water supply, roads, sanitation and hygiene. But this was taken away after their inclusion in AMC limits.
"The Gram Panchayats were a one-stop solution to all our problems related to water, sanitation and hygiene as well as copies of land records," said Kanaiyalal Patel, former sarpanch of the Ambli Gram Panchayat. As there is no facility for registering complaints or civic centre at Ambli, the residents of the area now have to travel to Bodakdev, Hebatpur or Shilaj, or visit the AMC office at Thaltej to avail of such facilities. AMC officials visit the area only to serve notices in connection with property tax bills, Patel said.
Moreover, the problems faced by these areas have not been solved even after the residents registered many complaints. "There is no response from the civic body," said Ashok Nair, a resident of Hebatpur village, where there has been no development and the hygiene and sanitation situation is appalling.
"There is no health centre and there are piles of garbage. Students have to cross dirty water on their way to school, resulting in skin diseases," said Nair, a teacher at the Delight Day Boarding School.
AMC officials visit these villages once a week for two hours, to register births and deaths. "AMC officials visit Ambli on Wednesday and that too, from 10 to 12 in the morning. If anyone is unable to arrive within this time, he or she has to wait an entire week," said Hansa Patel, former sarpanch of the Ambli Gram Panchayat. And in case any official is on leave or engaged by some other work, there is no replacement, she said.
The residents of these areas also have grievances related to property tax. Houses used as godowns to store fodder for animals are considered as non-residential property, resulting in imposition of higher property tax. "Our ancestral properties used as stables and godowns to store fodder are being taxed heavily," said Prakash Patel, a resident of Shilaj.
He said that they would not mind paying the heavier taxes provided the civic body ensures better facilities for them.
Though these areas have been covered under AMC limits, no fresh civic elections have been held for the residents of these areas, who have demanded that this is done soon so that they have their representation in the civic body.
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