Prajapati claims that while raising the road-level according to “horizontal planning”, the corporation has not referred to the contour map.

“VMC has completely missed out the point about vertical planning, which can amount to a criminal offence,” he said.

A contour map shows the depressions and elevations in the city by connecting areas with same altitude.

Referring to the monsoon, the activist said raising the level of roads will lead to more waterlogging in houses. “Most of the houses have three or four stairs above the ground. If the roads are elevated, it can lead to more flooding,” Prajapati said.

He also alleged that most roads do not have a storm water drainage system because of which rainwater eventually flows back to the houses.

Prajapati had previously filed a complaint with the VMC under the Right to Information Act (RTI) seeking information as to whether the corporation uses contour map as a basis for repair works. ‘

“In a reply to the application, VMC officials said they did not use the contour map,” said the activist.