Four-inch rainfall in 2 hours leaves Vadodara reeling

Dharmik Dave, Head of Department and Executive Engineer (Water Works), In-charge Additional City Engineer (Drainage Project and Sewage works) and Executive Engineer (Road Project), told The Indian Express that the highest rainfall of 4 inches was received in the East Zone but South and North Zone witnessed a rainfall of about 3-3.5 inches in a
short span.

Dave said the VMC, after placing a request with the former royal family, broke down the compound wall of an estate near the Bhimnath bridge. Dave said, “The estate was a private property but it had a natural drain for rainwater, which was recently filled up and levelled and a compound wall constructed by the owners.. The Ward Officer of the area was required to take note and ensure that an additional storm water drain was constructed outside the compound. However, it was not done and it can admittedly be called a lapse on part of the Ward office. Now, following the water logging, the Municipal Commissioner has instructed the ward office to immediately construct a storm water drain.”

Dave said about two feet of waterlogging on the Jail Road was cleared within two hours after breaking down the compound wall of the estate. It was also the first time waterlogging was witnessed outside the main gate of the Lukshmi Vilas Palace on Rajmahal Road. In the Navapura area, adjoining Rajmahal road, rainwater entered homes of residents.

On Tuesday, videos of BJP corporator Jagruti Kaka being ‘heckled’ by locals during a visit went viral as residents enlisted the damage they had suffered due to the waterlogging.

Creating natural drains in 40 spots

As Vadodara city continues to face water logging in several parts, primarily due to obstruction in the natural flow of water through the city, VMC has identified 40 spots where natural drains have been “buried under” construction or “solidified due to silt”.

Dave said, “There are recommendations of the Vishwamitri flood mitigation committee and we have also identified about 40 spots, where natural drains – by the virtue of being part of private properties – have just been buried under new development. There are also areas where the drains exist but as they are several decades old the network capacity has shrunk to almost half due to silt collection and solidification… Revamping the natural drains in these identified spots and keeping the kaans and storm water drains open to their full capacity is the only long term solution to the problem of rain water logging in city areas.”

One of the reports of the committee of environmental experts formed by the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission to supervise the Vishwamitri flood mitigation project had expressed concern about the water logging, even when the river water had not invaded the city with specific mention of guidelines needed to safeguard the river ecosystem. The report, made public in September, said, “An urgent need for formulation and implementation of guidelines for the adhoc initiatives and projects within/adjacent to the flood plains is imperative for safeguarding the river ecosystem. Meanwhile, any form of development activities should not be permitted or undertaken by private owners as well as public authorities…” Rohit Prajapati of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, who is a part of the SHRC committee told The Indian Express, “This particular issue of waterlogging was discussed in detail with the corporation on many occasions… Our second report on the project mentioned in detail about the possibility of flooding due to natural drains being buried under construction…”