The Times of India 04.08.2012
AMC wakes up, tries to stop damage
AHMEDABAD: Almost a week after The Times of India alerted everyone about the illegal construction in the 400-yearold palace built by Shah Jahan, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) finally served notices to Sardar Vallbhbhai Patel Memorial Society (SVPMS) to stop all construction at the Moti Shahi palace in Shahibaug.
The central zone office of the AMC admitted that the society had not taken any permission from the civic body prior to constructing new additions at the palace.
"Our central zone deputy town development officer (TDO) Nilesh Baranda
had visited the site in the morning and asked the society to stop all
construction activity. A notice is also served. The society has created
extra commercial space and shafts for elevators which is unlawful," says
deputy municipal commissioner I K Patel.
Even though the AMC
claimed that it had stopped work, TOI found continuing construction work
throughout Friday at the palace premises. Work was focused on the
basement room renovation and the elevator shaft. The trust plans
additional space — a cafeteria, art gallery and interactive art
galleries. The trust did not take permissions under sections 253 and 254
of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, and section
27 of the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act.
Besides this, the society had to submit an undertaking to AMC made by
their structural engineer that the new additions were structurally safe.
What is appalling is that even structural engineer Vijay Shah employed
by the society does not own up the additional construction.
