Ahmedabad's Lake Pollution Crisis Deepens
More than one hundred lakes in Ahmedabad currently suffer from severe sewage contamination. This ongoing issue causes significant environmental damage across the city. For over ten years, untreated sewage has flowed freely into these water bodies without any effective solution.
Failed Infrastructure and Illegal Connections
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation developed a major plan to address this crisis. They proposed treating sewage entering these lakes using bioremediation methods before release into water bodies. Municipal commissioner approval was sought to float tenders for this project.
However, the commissioner issued different instructions. He directed officials to develop a strategy for identifying and disconnecting illegal drainage connections. These illegal connections link directly to stormwater lines that feed the city's lakes.
Historical Infrastructure Problems
Two decades ago, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority invested heavily in stormwater infrastructure. They spent over Rs 100 crore installing stormwater lines in western Ahmedabad. The purpose was to interconnect various lakes and manage rainwater effectively.
Specific lakes like Vastrapur and Memnagar were connected so overflow from Memnagar would flow into Vastrapur. Similar networks linked lakes in Chenpur, Kaligam, Gota, Chandlodia, Ognaj, and Ranip. Unfortunately, these lines failed completely, leading to local flooding problems.
In 2010-11, the AMC attempted to fix the situation. They laid new stormwater lines connecting lakes in Ghatlodia, Chandlodia, Gota, Sola, and Ognaj. The plan involved collecting water at RC Technical garden lake, moving it to Sola lake, and eventually discharging it into the Gota-Godhavi canal through a 2,000mm pipeline.
The Root Cause: Illegal Commercial Connections
The situation worsened when numerous illegal commercial units in these areas connected their drainage systems to these stormwater lines. This illegal activity transformed what should have been clean rainwater channels into sewage carriers.
This development raised serious questions about the city's approach. Critics asked why Ahmedabad planned to treat illegal sewage rather than stopping it at the source. These concerns led to the tender being put on hold, highlighting the severity of the sewage influx problem.
Parallel Projects and Current Management
A similar bioremediation project was planned for the Sabarmati River. On September 25, 2024, the water and sewage committee formed a panel of five companies for a pilot project. This project aimed to treat 786.5 million liters per day of bypassed sewage before it entered the river.
While this was expected to begin in January 2025, reports indicate that required water quality parameters are not yet being achieved. Progress remains slow on multiple fronts.
In May 2024, then municipal commissioner M Thennarasan implemented new management structures. He gave responsibility for development, maintenance, and conservation of 110 AMC-owned lakes to deputy municipal commissioners. These 110 lakes represent most of the 156 lakes within city limits.
Special teams were formed comprising officers from multiple departments. These include engineering, estate, health, garden, solid waste management, and power departments. Their tasks include conducting regular inspections, submitting weekly reports to deputy municipal commissioners, and addressing problems like filth, sewage inflow, and encroachments at the lakes.
The Path Forward
The situation in Ahmedabad illustrates a complex environmental challenge. Failed infrastructure combined with illegal activities has created a persistent pollution problem. While treatment solutions like bioremediation show promise, addressing the root causes remains equally important.
City authorities now face the dual task of treating existing contamination while preventing new sewage from entering the lakes. The success of these efforts will determine the future health of Ahmedabad's water bodies and surrounding environment.
