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Installation of an ‘intelligent flood warning system’ in Vadodara, on the lines of the system adopted by Chennai in 2019, four years after the devastating 2015 floods, was among the “immediate steps” discussed in the ‘all stakeholders’ meeting held for Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation project on Friday.
The meeting held at the Vadodara circuit house came a day after an inter-ministerial team of the central government visited the city to hold meetings with the city and district administration in the aftermath of the August floods. The team also visited the Ajwa Reservoir apart from going to several waterlogged areas in the city.
VMC Standing Committee Chairman Dr Sheetal Mistry told The Indian Express, “The meeting was held to discuss the Vishwamitri project to chalk out a plan ahead for its implementation and to identify the long as well as short-term goals.”
“The recommendations were taken from Ahmedabad-based consulting firm, HCP Design, Planning & Management Private Limited, which had prepared the first project report in 2014-15; members of Vaho Vishwamitri NGO which had been working on the project up to 2020 were also called in to share their views while the current consultancy firm Secon, which has been working on flood mapping also presented its views…”
Mistry said, “Secon has recommended the installation of the intelligent flood warning system that Chennai adopted after the (2015) floods… The technology enables predict area-wise inundation and has been a game changer for Chennai.”
“Since Vishwamitri has been historically documented to flood every five years, we are considering the recommendations of all stakeholders to ensure that immediate steps can be taken to mitigate floods while the long-term project is underway… Urbanisation has meant that the flood plain has increased with the new added areas,” said Mistry.
Chairman Mistry added that in the meeting, a three-pronged approach was discussed, including engineering solutions, rain water recharging and beautification of certain portions of the river intersections in Vadodara.
He said, “We also discussed how rainwater harvesting can help in managing heavy inflow of water along with building two barrages near Kala Ghoda and Vadsar, which can also be used as recreational points for a sustainable project…” “Multipurpose lakes can be created along the Vishwamitri which will remain dry during summer and can be used for other activities. The consultation firm has also surveyed different bridges over Vishwamitri in the city, which are narrow and are acting as obstructions… But removing the constriction can be a very complicated process…” Mistry said.
He added that the engineering solutions being considered include diverting 17000 cusecs of Vishwamitri water to Mini River from Sandvo Khedwa Kotar (pond) at the junction of Samilaya and Vadadla in Vadodara rural by constructing a 4.2 kilometer long canal and executing about 26 kilometer resectioning downstream in Mini.
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