Surat: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and concerned state government departments will initiate short-term works on an urgent basis to address flooding through creeks crossing the city, following a coordination meeting held at Tapi Bhavan on Wednesday.The measures include widening and desilting of various creeks, with a technical agency identifying specific locations where the works can be undertaken. The agency also presented a hydrology model and outlined other short-term mitigation measures.The meeting was attended by Mayor Maya Mavani, municipal commissioner Rajkumar Beniwal, Surat collector Tejas Parmar, city MLAs, SMC office-bearers and officials, Irrigation Department officials and consultants.Among the other recommendations, MLAs called for a bathymetry survey of Mithi Creek from the national highway to the Mindhola River and removal of obstructive and excess structures beneath creek bridges to improve their carrying capacity. They also recommended identifying and clearing encroachments obstructing the flow of creeks.The irrigation department was directed to remove all unauthorised shrimp ponds in the Khajod-Gabheni area before the next monsoon.The MLAs also sought strict action and penalties against industries dumping solid waste into creeks, along with continuous monitoring to prevent such dumping.
