Ahmedabad’s water tank security and operating procedures came under scrutiny at a municipal coordination committee meeting after a human skull and bones were reportedly found in a tank at the Asarwa Water Distribution Centre. The Ellisbridge MLA sought tighter access control, qualified technical staff and the deployment of ex-servicemen at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s water tanks.
The meeting was held at Riverfront House and covered the operation and maintenance of civic water tanks, which are managed through contracts. According to the report, the MLA said the Asarwa incident showed the need for greater attention to the security and management of water infrastructure.
The representative proposed replacing ordinary security guards at water tanks with ex-army personnel. The demand was linked to the need to prevent unauthorised access to facilities that form part of the city’s drinking-water distribution system.
The MLA also called for qualified employees, including ITI-trained tunnel fitters, to operate the pumps and manage tank equipment. According to his claim, none of the water tanks operated through contracts had ITI-qualified tunnel fitters. He further alleged that, at some locations, people running tea stalls or outsiders switch the water pumps on and off.
The demands point to a wider operational issue in civic water facilities: security, technical maintenance and pump operations are being handled within a contract-based system, while the required qualifications and responsibilities of personnel remain a matter of concern. The report does not provide the AMC’s response to the allegations or details of any immediate audit ordered after the Asarwa discovery.
The committee also discussed the design of the Makrba Bridge. The MLA reportedly objected to the bridge descending at a four-road junction after completion, arguing that the arrangement was creating difficulties for traffic planning. He proposed a separate design unit or design cell within the corporation for bridge and housing projects.
The proposal was based on the argument that bridge designs should account for surrounding junctions and traffic movement before construction begins. A dedicated design function, according to the representation, could help the corporation address these factors during project planning and reduce difficulties after construction.
Municipal staffing was another issue raised at the meeting. Amit Shah said that 77 Class I officers were working in charge arrangements within the corporation and sought permanent appointments against vacant posts. He also referred to superintendent posts in civic hospitals that, according to the report, had remained under charge arrangements for years, and sought regular appointments to improve public healthcare services.
The meeting also considered drainage and road-related demands in Vejalpur. MLA Amit Thaker sought a dedicated storm-water line to address flooding in the constituency. He said work was under way on a line from But Bhavani through Shreyas Complex to Makrba, and proposed extending drainage infrastructure from Sonal Road near Shivranjani, behind Parth School, around Jivraj Char Rasta and near Rajwadu Hotel.
The Vejalpur demands also included pumping and booster stations, new roads and gardens. The report does not specify timelines, approved budgets or final decisions on the proposals. The immediate next steps depend on the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s response to the representations and any administrative action on water-tank security, staffing, drainage works and project design.
