AMC’s development projects are reducing Ahmedabad’s green cover
In a city where urbanisation is steadily advancing, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) approach to expanding the city’s green cover has become a point of contention. While the civic body claims to have planted lakhs of trees under its ambitious ‘Mission Million Trees,’ there is growing concern over the steady loss of public gardens to urban development. This paradox highlights a broader issue, one that places the city’s rapid infrastructure projects in direct opposition to environmental sustainability.
Across Ahmedabad, several once lush gardens have been reduced to bare patches of land or completely razed to make way for development works. Gardens, once integral to the city’s green landscape, have suffered from either neglect or direct clearance for construction. Among the most notable casualties is the Rafiyuddin Sheikh Afforestation Garden near Panjrapol in Ambawadi. Originally established in 2004 as part of an initiative to increase greenery in western Ahmedabad, this park is now barely a memory. Over the years, trees were quietly axed, and the space has been transformed into a parking lot, leaving behind little trace of its former identity. Similarly, the garden next to DK Patel Hall was also sacrificed for an expansion project, and what was once a serene green space is now part of a growing urban expanse.
This dilemma is not an isolated incident. Other significant gardens across the city have faced similar fates. In 2021, the AMC cleared the Bhairavi Garden on Gurukul Road, a 10,178 sq.m space that had been planted by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) in 2002, to build a large water tank and pumping station. Likewise, the 4,000 sq.m Rose Garden near Vallabhsadan was destroyed in 2010-11 to build a road connecting the Mithakhali underpass to the Sabarmati Riverfront. Even the Hajipura Garden in Shahibaug, one of the largest parks in the eastern part of the city, was diminished by 14,000 sq.m for the construction of recreational facilities. These changes have left many residents questioning whether the city’s increasing urbanisation is worth the environmental cost.
The trend of sacrificing green spaces for development is not only disheartening for environmental advocates but also raises concerns about the long-term impact on urban sustainability. Gardens and parks play a crucial role in maintaining a city’s ecological balance, providing clean air, reducing urban heat, and offering residents a much-needed refuge from the concrete jungle. The destruction of such spaces undermines these essential environmental services. Furthermore, the reduction in greenery compromises Ahmedabad’s ability to combat climate change, which remains a pressing issue for cities across the globe.
The city’s development projects, though necessary for growth, must find a way to coexist with the environment. The AMC’s commitment to increasing greenery through initiatives like ‘Mission Million Trees’ is commendable, but this cannot be a mere token gesture when green spaces are being destroyed at the same time. As Ahmedabad continues to expand, the challenge lies in ensuring that urban growth does not come at the expense of its green future. Urban planners must prioritise sustainable development practices that integrate green spaces into the city’s infrastructure, allowing both nature and development to thrive side by side. The citizens of Ahmedabad deserve a city that is both modern and sustainable, where progress does not come at the cost of the environment.
