Gujarat: Creek development plan announced after Surat floods (Lead)

Navsari/Surat, July 9 (IANS) The Gujarat government will allocate Rs 500 crore for creek development to provide a permanent solution to Surat’s recurring tidal flooding, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced on Thursday after reviewing the flood situation caused by heavy rainfall in Surat city and district.

Patel visited Surat and chaired a high-level review meeting at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Althan to assess the impact of flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in upstream areas.

The meeting reviewed relief and rescue operations, post-flood sanitation measures, disease prevention efforts and the disbursement of financial assistance to affected residents.

The Chief Minister directed officials to prepare and implement an immediate action plan to ensure that administrative shortcomings observed during the recent floods are not repeated in future emergencies.

He also stressed the need for long-term planning to prevent recurring tidal flooding in Surat. “To provide a permanent solution to Surat’s tidal flooding problem, the state government will allocate Rs 500 crore for creek development,” Patel said during the meeting.

He instructed the administration to expedite the payment of cash doles and household assistance to all those affected by the floods.

Patel also said public representatives and government officials should work together during natural disasters and directed all departments to strengthen coordination and to prepare a comprehensive strategy to prevent future creek-related flooding.

The Chief Minister said the state government remained in continuous coordination with the local administration regarding the post-flood situation in Surat city and district and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring citizens’ safety during the monsoon.

The review meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Finance Minister and Surat district in-charge Kanu Desai, Health Minister Praful Pansheriya and senior administrative officials.

“The Rs 500 crore allocation for creek development and improvement works was intended to permanently address waterlogging caused by tidal flooding in Surat,” Sanghavi said.

He also warned that any poor-quality work or concealed deficiencies in infrastructure projects undertaken by the Surat Municipal Corporation, district administration or other government departments would be investigated.

“If any poor-quality work or hidden deficiencies come to light in road construction, other public works or flood-related projects, a thorough investigation will be conducted. Strict legal action will be taken against all those found negligent or involved,” Sanghavi said.

He said the Surat Municipal Corporation, district administration, police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire Brigade had worked together during the flood response.

“More than 5,000 volunteers and residents also assisted relief efforts, while the people of Surat showed remarkable patience and collective strength during the crisis,” he added.

Surat Municipal Commissioner M. Nagarajan said the city had received nearly 30 per cent of its seasonal rainfall during the current week alone.

“3,600 people had been rescued, and 4,100 affected residents shifted to relief centres. Two NDRF teams and five SDRF teams remain deployed in the city,” he said.

Surat District Collector Tejas Parmar said Palsana and Kamrej talukas recorded the highest rainfall in the district.

“Rapid damage assessment surveys were underway in the affected areas, and the distribution of cash doles and household assistance had begun on Wednesday. Around 40 kutcha and pucca houses in the city and district had sustained damage,” he added.

After concluding the Surat review, Patel travelled to Navsari, where he held a separate meeting with officials and elected representatives to review the rescue, relief and assistance measures following recent heavy rainfall in Navsari district.

He met the district collectors of Navsari and Valsad, superintendents of police, district development officers, MLAs and other officials before issuing further directions on the ongoing response.

–IANS

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