Ahmedabad's Green Paradox: 700 Trees Face Axe for Water Infrastructure
In a development that underscores the persistent conflict between urban greening initiatives and infrastructure expansion, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has proposed removing 700 trees planted just eighteen months ago. These trees, located in the Isanpur area, must make way for an underground water tank, revealing what many environmentalists call a planning paradox in Gujarat's largest city.
The Short-Lived Miyawaki Forest
The trees in question were planted during the 2024 monsoon season as part of AMC's highly publicized "Mission 3 Million Trees" campaign. What makes this case particularly noteworthy is the planting method employed: the Miyawaki technique. This Japanese approach is specifically designed to create dense, fast-growing urban forests that can thrive in limited spaces.
Ironically, the trees grew too successfully for their own survival. Their robust development now positions them as obstacles to the civic body's infrastructure plans. The proposal to fell these trees has been presented to AMC's standing committee, with a final decision anticipated this Friday.
From Plantation Celebration to Elimination
The plot near Isanpur lake, originally reserved for future water infrastructure, was temporarily used for the tree plantation drive after encroachments were cleared. The garden department executed the planting with considerable enthusiasm, only to now approve the same trees' removal as the water project transitions from planning documents to physical implementation.
AMC officials acknowledge the irony of this situation. While the water production department argues that a new 2.1 million litre underground tank is essential to meet rising demand from redeveloped societies and new high-rises, the garden department has completed what observers describe as a full circle of plantation, celebration, and elimination in record time.
Broader Context of Ahmedabad's Greening Efforts
This incident occurs against the backdrop of AMC's substantial tree-planting claims:
- Between 2019-20 and 2023-24: 75.43 lakh trees planted across Ahmedabad
- 2024-25: 30 lakh trees planted
- 2025-26: 40 lakh trees planted
- Total over seven years: 145.43 lakh trees (approximately 14.5 million)
However, a critical gap exists in municipal records: there is no comprehensive documentation of how many trees have been removed for various development projects during this same period.
Infrastructure Necessity vs. Environmental Commitment
The proposed water tank serves a vital function for local residents. Behind the Isanpur ward office, two existing underground tanks with capacities of 2.72 million litres and 1.81 million litres currently supply water to Isanpur village, Govindwadi, and surrounding areas, serving approximately 30,000 people. The new tank aims to address growing demand from the area's development.
Yet this practical necessity clashes with the environmental promises embedded in initiatives like "Mission 3 Million Trees." The Isanpur plantation's likely fate—being added to plantation tallies then quietly subtracted from the ground—exemplifies a recurring pattern in Ahmedabad's urban management.
Wider Implications for Reserved Plots
The Isanpur case is not isolated. Under the same 2024 mission:
- Approximately 1.64 lakh trees were planted across 10 plots reserved for public utilities like libraries, neighborhood centers, and community facilities
- Between 2022 and 2024, plantations occurred on over 50 reserved plots throughout the city
One prominent example is in Memnagar, where AMC planted over 200 trees under the "Saurabh Nursery" name on an 8,806 square meter plot earmarked for a playground opposite Sharad Mehta Garden. This site is now being considered for the Navrangpura Auditorium, placing these recently planted trees at similar risk.
The Development-Greenery Balancing Act
Ahmedabad's experience highlights the complex challenges Indian cities face in balancing infrastructure development with environmental sustainability. While AMC's tree-planting numbers appear impressive on paper, incidents like Isanpur's raise questions about:
- The long-term planning integration of green initiatives
- Transparency in tracking both plantation and removal statistics
- The genuine survival rate of planted trees amid urban expansion pressures
As Ahmedabad continues to grow and modernize, the tension between concrete development and green cover promises to remain a defining feature of the city's urban landscape. The Isanpur decision, whatever its outcome, will likely influence future approaches to balancing these competing priorities in one of India's most rapidly developing metropolitan areas.
