Surat: Promising a permanent solution to Surat’s recurring creek flooding, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday announced a Rs 500-crore package for creek redevelopment, while Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi warned of strict legal action against officials and contractors responsible for shoddy civic works that may have worsened the city’s flood crisis.Patel, who visited Surat to review the flood-like situation triggered by torrential rain earlier this week, chaired a high-level meeting at the city’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). He reviewed drainage and waterlogging, relief and rescue operations, post-flood sanitation measures, disease-control efforts and the disbursal of financial assistance to affected families.The meeting was attended by Union jal shakti minister C R Paatil,finance and Surat district in charge minister Kanu Desai, minister of state for health Praful Panseriya and senior district and municipal officials.Emphasising the need for a long-term solution, Patel directed officials to prepare and implement an immediate action plan to plug administrative gaps exposed during the floods.Sanghavi said the government would investigate whether poor-quality construction or hidden defects in civic infrastructure had contributed to the flooding. “Wherever substandard work or negligence is found, strict legal action will be taken against those responsible,” he said.Municipal officials informed Patel that the ICCC was enabling real-time monitoring of drainage clearance, sanitation drives, relief work, cash assistance and anti-mosquito spraying across the city.Municipal commissioner M Nagaraj said Surat received nearly 30% of its seasonal rainfall within a few days this week. He said around 3,600 people were rescued and 4,100 shifted to relief camps, while two NDRF and five SDRF teams remain deployed for relief operations.Cash doles reach affected familiesDistrict authorities have begun distributing financial assistance to families affected by the flooding. Each family of four is eligible for Rs 1,800 as cash doles (Rs 600 per day for three days) and Rs 5,000 towards household goods and clothing, taking the total assistance to Rs 6,800 per family. Surveys in Abrama and Katargam are expected to conclude within two days, after which another Rs 15-20 lakh is likely to be disbursed.Rs 4 lakh ex gratia for families of deceasedThe city and district administration has launched a survey of rain-related deaths in Udhna, Majura, Puna, Adajan, Katargam and Abrama to ensure prompt payment of the state’s Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to the families of those who lost their lives. Officials said the verification exercise is being carried out on priority and is expected to be completed by Friday evening, following which compensation will be released without delay.
