Demolition drive targets ‘illegal’ shrimp ponds along Mithi creek’s banks

The Mithi creeks, which pass through multiple areas in the city, were recently inundated at some places, resulting in a flood-like situation in Sachin, Limbayat, Udhna, Punagam, and Khajod areas, according to officials.

For at least five days, the residents of multiple residential societies had to be relocated even as many people affected due to creek floods were shifted to the municipal schools by the authorities, according to sources. The creek floods also affected the textile industry as multiple shops located in the basement and ground-floor areas of around 10 textile markets were inundated with traders facing significant losses due to damaged goods.

Find a solution: CR Paatil directs officials

Earlier on Saturday, Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil had also carried out a meeting during which the officials of SMC, Surat district Collector, Surat Police Department, Irrigation Department and Surat district Panchayat among others took part. During the meeting, Paatil directed them to come up with “a solution to get rid of the creek floods being faced by people of Surat every year”.

Acting on the instructions, Surat District Collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi on Monday had formed a high power committee named “Khadi Pur Nivaran Samithi” (Creek Flood Prevention Committee) comprising 19 officials from SMC, district Panchayat, the revenue and irrigation department among others.

The first meeting of the Creek Flood Prevention Committee was held on Tuesday under Pardhi. Sources said that during the meeting it was discussed that a survey will be carried out to “identify pressure points (such areas where the creek becomes narrow due to the constructed properties and others), which have come up on the government land”. Sources said another issue which was discussed was “whether to divert the creek floodwater directly into the Tapi river and if there is a possibility of diverting the creek floodwater directly into the Mindola river”.

The dredging and silting activities should also be carried out in the creek, thereby increasing the water’s carrying capacity, suggested the officials during the meeting, as per sources.

Dr. Sourabh Pardhi told The Indian Express, “We have ordered the Irrigation Department and SMC officials to carry out a survey to identify pressure points and take action accordingly. The SMC will provide manpower to remove the illegal properties affecting the flow of the creek. We have also instructed SMC officials to start dredging and silting work in the creeks.”

During Wednesday’s demolition drive, the members of the  Creek Flood Prevention Committee along with the local police reached the Khajod area to identify “illegal shrimp ponds established on government land”.

According to sources, the Khajod Revenue Department has land of around 1065 hectares, out of which the DREAM city project has been developed on 561 hectares, and illegal shrimp ponds have been established on the remaining land. Sources said that there are “thousands of illegal shrimp ponds in Khajod area”. The process to demolish the entire network of illegal ponds will take a few more days, sources in the Irrigation Department said. Collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi said, “The demolition of illegal shrimp ponds in Khajod has been started. We will be adding more officials, including Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agrawal, to the Creek Flood Prevention Committee in the coming days, as the majority of the affected areas fall within the jurisdiction of SMC.”