AMC to invite fresh bids for Jaldhara water park operations

AHMEDABAD: The civic body on Wednesday rejected the controversial proposal to allot the operation and maintenance contract of Jaldhara water park in Kankaria to Superstar Amusement Park Pvt Ltd.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had recently floated a tender to invite bids for the operation and maintenance of the water park for a period of 15 years.
According to the sources, the proposal mentioned Rs 35 lakh as rental but did not mention anything about the property tax to be paid. The new proposal, which was placed before AMC’s heritage, cultural and recreational committee on Wednesday, had suggested waiving property tax for Jaldhara Water Park’s operator Superstar Amusement Park Pvt Ltd. However, giving property tax exemption is the state government’s right and is extended to properties that are of national or state importance.
Sources said that the AMC has received two letters from private contractors who have offered Rs 50 lakh as rent for operating and maintaining the water park, which is spread over 10,194 square metres.
The tender issued for the water park had stated that the bidder will also have to repair the facility, the approximate cost for which was Rs 4.5 crore. The 10,194 sq metres of land on which the water park stands is valued at about Rs 100 crore.
“We have rejected the revised proposal for Jaldhara water park tender as we think that we can earn more in rent from other interested firms. We will issue a fresh tender in the next few days,” said Raju Dave, the chairman of the AMC’s heritage, cultural and recreational committee.
Shehzad Pathan, the leader of opposition in AMC and councillor from Danilimda, alleged that the AMC officials decide on the contractor before even floating a tender. “The civic body tried to hide the tender provisions like waiver of property tax for Jaldhara Waterpark. However, it must have rejected the proposal due to some dispute with the contractor,” Pathan alleged.