Ahmedabad's real estate association, CREDAI GIHED, has raised concerns over the city's civic body, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, for collecting water tax from commercial property owners without providing them with water connections. The issue has sparked controversy as property owners argue that they are being charged for a service they are not receiving. CREDAI GIHED has urged the authorities to address the matter promptly and ensure that property owners are granted the necessary water connections corresponding to the taxes they pay.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has come under scrutiny as the CREDAI Gihed Ahmedabad, a real estate developers' association, has highlighted the lack of water connections provided to operational commercial buildings that have obtained Building Use (BU) permission. Despite collecting water tax from property owners, the AMC is failing to supply them with essential water connections, resulting in severe consequences for various businesses, including prominent hotels.
The situation has been a longstanding problem, with the issue reportedly plaguing commercial projects for nearly a decade. Tejas Joshi, the president of CREDAI Ahmedabad, stressed the association's efforts in bringing this matter to the attention of the AMC. He expressed disappointment, stating that property owners dutifully pay all their taxes but are denied water supply by the civic body.
To cope with the water shortage, many commercial buildings, including well-known hotels, are compelled to resort to borewells or water tankers for meeting their daily water requirements. This has not only become a financial burden but also poses environmental challenges, especially considering the rampant usage of borewells in under-construction sites.
Viral Shah, the secretary of CREDAI Ahmedabad, further emphasized that under-construction projects are also affected by the AMC's negligence. Due to the absence of water and drainage connections, under-construction sites often face hindrances from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), which prohibits borewell usage. This not only hampers the pace of development but also creates difficulties for the Swachh Bharat mission, as labour colonies in these projects lack proper drainage connections.
In response to the situation, CREDAI Ahmedabad has made a fervent demand for the AMC to take immediate action and provide water and drainage connections to all projects, both operational and under-construction. The association aims to resolve the long-standing issue that has been affecting the real estate industry and local businesses.
Jatin Patel, the chairman of the AMC water and sewage committee, claimed to be unaware of the specific concerns raised by CREDAI. Nevertheless, he assured that water connections are being provided to projects that have obtained BU permission, be it operational or under-construction, adhering to the established rules. Patel stated that the AMC is committed to addressing and resolving any complaints or issues brought forward by the real estate developers' association.
As the situation unfolds, the AMC faces increasing pressure to address the water supply crisis and take necessary steps to provide adequate water connections to commercial establishments and under-construction sites in Ahmedabad.
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