Surat: Creek desilting, widening of key stretches, diversion of upstream runoff and faster discharge into the sea formed the focus of a high-level review meeting in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, as authorities deliberated on efforts to reduce flood risk in Surat.The meeting, chaired by Surat district in-charge and finance minister Kanu Desai, was attended by minister of state for water supply Ishwarsinh Patel, MLAs, Surat municipal commissioner Rajkumar Beniwal, office-bearers of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and officials from the water supply department.The discussion centred on four major interventions: desilting creeks to improve water flow, diverting upstream runoff before it reaches the city, removing obstructions and selectively widening stretches to enhance carrying capacity, and widening creek tails to enable faster discharge into the sea.The state govt has already approved Rs 500 crore for creek flood-prevention works. Among the proposed measures, desilting and removal of blockages in waterways will be taken up first.“Desilting will start on priority and before the next monsoon, some major stretches will be cleared. Major obstructions in the waterways will be the focus,” an SMC official said.Authorities are also working on plans to increase the creeks’ carrying capacity by widening stretches where flow has reduced because of narrowing or obstructions.“Currently the water-carrying capacity is around 100 cusecs. We are working on plans to increase it to 300 cusecs,” an officer said.Another proposal involves diverting upstream water through a pipeline and releasing it into a nearby river before it enters the city. Officials said heavy rain in upstream areas contributed to the sudden flood-like situations in Surat.The irrigation department has been directed to widen the tail end of the creek system to help water drain more quickly into the sea. Officials said encroachments, including shrimp farms, have restricted water flow and increased flooding risk.
