Mega Demolition in Ahmedabad: 8,500 Chandola Homes Gone, ‘Mini Bangladesh’ Targeted

Ahmedabad’s Chandola Lake area, often called ‘Mini Bangladesh’ due to illegal settlements, saw a massive demolition drive that flattened 8,500 structures by May 20, 2025. Launched on April 29, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) operation, backed by 3,000 police, targeted encroachments linked to suspected Bangladeshi immigrants, clearing 2.5 lakh square meters, per The Indian Express. The drive, intensified post-Pahalgam attack, continues to spark debates over legality and humanitarian concerns.

Scale and Execution of Demolition
The operation’s second phase, starting May 20, demolished 8,500 homes—kucha and pucca structures—using 50 bulldozers and 150 dumpers, with 8,000 personnel ensuring order, per India TV. Phase one (April 29-May 1) razed 4,000 structures, clearing 1.5 lakh square meters. A drone survey revealed encroachments buried under mud, linked to figures like Mehmood Pathan, accused of forging Aadhaar cards for immigrants. The AMC aims to restore the lake, a protected water body, amid claims of illegal activities like liquor storage.

Context and Controversy
Triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Gujarat police detained 6,500 suspected Bangladeshi nationals, confirming 450 as illegal, per New Indian Express. On April 26, 890 residents were rounded up, with most released after proving Indian citizenship, but demolitions proceeded, citing national security. The Gujarat High Court rejected stay pleas, noting Chandola’s status as a no-construction zone. Residents, some claiming decades-long residency, protested the lack of relocation, with scrap dealers like Gauri Dantani lamenting lost livelihoods.

AMC’s Future Plans
The AMC plans lake deepening, debris clearance, and a boundary wall, with ₹600 crore allocated for 4,000 PMAY homes to resettle pre-2010 residents, per The Indian Express. Treated water from Pirana’s sewage plant will replenish the lake, though rehabilitation delays fuel unrest. Minister Harsh Sanghavi hailed the operation as a “historic victory,” but critics highlight the human cost.

Broader Implications
The demolition, praised on X as a model for tackling illegal migration, has drawn accusations of targeting Muslims, given Chandola’s demographic. The operation underscores tensions over immigration and urban planning, with calls for transparent rehabilitation growing louder as Ahmedabad navigates development and social justice.