The prestigious Slum Networking Project (SNP) of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has benefited 48 slums in the city. But the touted ‘development’ faces threat to its existence from the civic body itself, as nearly 30 SNP slum pockets in the city risk demolition in the face of the corporation’s town planning schemes.

Three major pockets, K K Vishwanath ni Chali, Macchipir and Khodiyarnagar, where SNP was active for two years, were demolished for the Kankaria Lake Front Development and the Sabarmati River Front Development projects, leaving 1,478 families homeless.

Almost six major areas — Chamanpura, Kankaria, Behrampura, Gomtipur, Sabarmati and Wadaj, proposed to come under SNP — have been identified for demolition to give way to the upcoming infrastructure projects.

As part of the SNP, the slums are provided with basic amenities of water, sanitation, drainage and roads. The shanties are also upgraded to pucca houses. Each upgrade costs AMC Rs 50,000, totalling up to Rs 15.74 crore for 48 slums. Now, the AMC has decided to remove even the upgraded slums in tune with its constantly changing town planning schemes.

Claiming that the AMC cannot be sure of its town planning scheme even for the next five years, Anand Patel, Additional City Engineer, who is heading SNP, said: “The town planning schemes and infrastructure projects are conceptualised on a routine basis. After placing the slums under SNP, we cannot remove them from that spot until 10 years, but if a major project has to be developed, we give them alternative rehabilitation, which is a big commitment.”

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