Surat:The civic body has deployed a floating hydraulic excavator to clean city creeks ahead of the monsoon to prevent flooding caused by silt and blockages. Three more such machines will soon be added, taking the total to four, to desilt difficult-to-access creek stretches.Officials said the diesel-operated excavators, brought from Tripura, can float on water and work in areas without road access. The machines will operate for four months as part of the pre-monsoon drive to remove silt and waste, which have narrowed creeks due to encroachments and dumping, contributing to flooding during heavy rains in recent years.The excavators will remain in operation for four months as part of the pre-monsoon preparedness drive. The machines are expected to help remove silt and other blockages from difficult-to-access sections of creeks, reducing the risk of waterlogging and flooding during the rainy season.Multiple residential and commercial properties have developed encroaching on the creek and flood plains in the city, leaving the creeks narrow. Further, the dumping of waste in the creeks reduced its water-carrying capacity.
