Surat: Residents of the Parvat area have demanded that documents related to the decision to merge smaller creeks into Mithi during 2019-20 be made public, seeking transparency over changes made to the creek network under the Tapi Sudhhikaran Project.A memorandum was submitted on Wednesday to district collector Tejas Parmar and Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) deputy municipal commissioner Nidhi Siwach. Residents sought urgent measures to prevent recurring flooding in the area and demanded the removal of a textile market they alleged was developed by encroaching upon the creek.Residents had planned a motorcycle rally to draw attention to the issue, but the programme was cancelled after police denied permission.According to the memorandum, residents said they had learnt that several smaller creeks were diverted into Mithi creek in 2019-20 to prevent polluted water from entering the Tapi river. They demanded that the administration disclose whether the decision was taken by the elected wing of the SMC and whether all necessary rules, procedures and approvals were followed.They also sought details on whether residents were informed about the project, including its scope and possible impact on flood risk.Residents alleged that if the diversion was carried out without following due procedures, the additional flow could be contributing to flood-like conditions along Mithi creek. They called for an investigation and demanded that all relevant documents, approvals, technical reports and other details be placed in the public domain.The memorandum further stated that if additional creeks had been merged with Mithi, its carrying capacity should have been increased. Residents questioned what measures were taken to widen, deepen or strengthen the channel to accommodate the increased flow, arguing that inadequate planning could have aggravated flooding.They also demanded that responsibility be fixed for losses caused by flooding and that action be taken against officials or others found accountable.Residents said the creek was once comparable to a small river but has gradually narrowed because of encroachments.The key demands of the residents include separation of the merged creeks, widening of Mithi creek and removal of encroachments along its course. They also raised concerns about a textile market allegedly developed around the creek, claiming that the encroachment has further reduced the channel’s width.The memorandum stated that around 30 residential societies in the area have been affected by recurring floods. Residents claimed that even rainfall of around four inches can result in water entering hundreds of homes. This year, they said, floodwater reached depths of up to eight feet in residential areas, with three flooding incidents reported within a span of 22 days.Residents said the area has experienced flooding every year for the past eight years, resulting in losses worth lakhs of rupees. Household appliances such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines and flour mills, along with other electronic equipment and furniture, have reportedly been damaged. Several two-wheelers and four-wheelers were also affected.Local industries and businesses have also suffered losses, residents said, adding that repeated flooding has forced many families to spend nights awake out of fear of rising water levels and further damage.
