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After a delay of almost two decades, survey work has started to build embankment walls on both sides of the conventional barrage proposed to come up on Tapi river, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner Shalini Agrawal said on Tuesday.
The 1.2-km conventional barrage on Tapi river, connecting Rundh to Bhata village, was proposed by SMC in 2003. Faced with various problems, including technical issues, the project had failed to take off. Now, after 20 years, a survey has been started to erect embankment wall on the banks of the river, said civic officials, adding that work would be completed by the end of the year.
“The SMC has sought 75 surveys for the project from different sectors. Fifty reports have been received in favour of this project and the remaining will be received in the next couple of months,” said an official from SMC’s urban development department.
“Once survey work is over, we will begin ground work from year-end or in January next year,” Agrawal said.
The project was taken up to fulfill the drinking water requirement of the people of Surat for 50 years. While at present, water discharged from Ukai dam reaches Tapi river and then travels to the Arabian Sea, the conventional barrage would stop Ukai dam water from reaching the sea, thereby keeping the Tapi river full the entire year.
The SMC commissioner further said that work on the Dumas Sea Phase project – a recreational and eco-tourism spot coming up on 107 hectare in Dumas near Surat and estimated to cost over Rs 600 crore – has begun.
“The work on development of Dumas sea phase has been taken up. Our team will hold meeting with Union Ministry of Forest and Environment officials on August 4 seeking Coastal Regulation Zone clearance. Once we get approval, work on the ground will begin,” said Agrawal, who on Tuesday visited the spot. The first phase of the project, to be executed by the SMC, will see the sea front being developed as an eco-tourism spot on 12.7 hectare.
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