Ahmedabad: AMC has reserved 15.8 lakh sq m of land — surrounding the city’s 141 lakes — as urban forests, gardens, and green strips.Civic body is creating a master plan to prevent illegal encroachments on lake lands.In draft Town Planning (TP) schemes covering different areas, AMC is incorporating plans for gardens, urban forests, and green spaces surrounding these waterbodies.Where sufficient land is available around lakes, sizable plots have been reserved for urban forests and gardens. For lakes with limited surrounding land, green spaces have been designated.Across more than 100 TP schemes in various parts of Ahmedabad, 141 lakes account for 22.3 lakh sq m of land.Together, the lakes afford 38.1 lakh sq m of lake and garden land for public utility.A senior AMC official said: “Lakes in various parts of Ahmedabad serve a vital role during the monsoon for stormwater drainage.”The official said over the past decade, AMC has observed that lakes lacking reserved plots for gardens or urban forests are encroached upon.“Encroachments or constructions on lake land are strictly prohibited, and the Supreme Court has issued clear mandates to remove such structures,” the official said. “AMC recently launched a demolition drive to clear encroachments on lake lands in Danilimda, Vatva, and Naroda.”Developing lakes directly benefits people living in the surrounding area, the official said.“Transforming land adjacent to lakes into recreational areas improves civic amenities,” he said. “Over the past two to three years, we have been systematically planning for gardens, urban forests, or green strips around lakes within TP schemes.”In addition to greenery, these garden plots can accommodate amusement parks or other recreational activities.Successful projects like the Vastrapur lake development and Gotila garden near Sindhu Bhavan Road lake have proved popular.A source from AMC’s engineering department said: “Ownership of most lakes in Ahmedabad traditionally rests with the district collector’s office.”The source said, “To develop them, AMC must secure possession. In 2021, AMC initiated the process to identify and take possession of revenue-recorded lakes across the city.”These lakes were divided into three categories: large (over 5 hectares); medium (2 to 5 hectares); and small (under 2 hectares).The city has six to seven large lakes, 37 medium lakes with high development potential, and 98 small lakes.“With lands now reserved, green development can begin even before final land transfer formalities conclude,” the source said.Box 1Planet-friendly planTP Scheme # Number of lakes # Lake area # Land reserved for gardens/urban forests # Total areaTP Schemes with approved drafts # 123 # 18.5 lakh sq m # 14.9 lakh sq m # 33.5 lakh sq mTP Schemes with preliminary approval # 18 # 3.8 lakh sq m # 83,159 sq m # 4.6 lakh sq mTotal # 141 # 22.3 lakh sq m # 15.8 lakh sq m # 38.1 lakh sq mBox 2Major lake lands reserved for urban forests/gardensTP Scheme number # Lake Survey Number # AreaSola TP Scheme No. 43/A # 1 # 77,194 sq mBhadaj TP Scheme No. 217 # 86 # 1.8 lakh sq mGhuma TP Scheme No. 2 # 186 (Part) # 82,825 sq mOgnaj TP Scheme No. 228 # 8 (Part) # 55,391 sq mRamol TP Scheme No. 107 # 635 # 84,609 sq mVastral TP Scheme No. 117 # 1 # 50,244 sq mSaijpur-Gopalpur TP Scheme No. 125 # 23 # 46,635 sq mBhadaj TP Scheme No. 301 # 375 # 18,919 sq mChandkheda TP Scheme No. 76/B # 21 # 43,200 sq mNarol TP Scheme No. 59 # 535 (Part) # 45,419 sq m
