Surat: Smarting under ravaging floods and the public uproar, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) announced the formation of a technical committee comprising govt officials and experts from Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) to identify the causes of recurrent flooding and recommend long-term mitigation measures.The decision was taken at a meeting of the Creek Flood Mitigation Committee held at the SMC headquarters on Monday.The meeting reviewed persistent flooding caused by overflowing creeks and outlined a series of immediate and long-term measures involving technical studies, boundary demarcation, pollution monitoring and desilting operations.Municipal commissioner M Nagarajan, district collector Tejas Parmar and officials from the SMC, district administration, irrigation department, Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA), Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and District Inspector of Land Records (DILR) attended the meeting.The committee decided to appoint a consultancy agency to compile existing data and conduct detailed surveys of the city’s creek network to support scientific planning. DILR officials were directed to begin demarcating creek boundaries immediately to facilitate future action.The GPCB was asked to submit details of industrial effluents discharged into creeks, while the irrigation department and SMC were instructed to resume creek cleaning and desilting work on priority. The SMC’s drainage department was directed to deploy a floating cleaning machine without delay and submit a progress report.All activities will be coordinated through a nodal officer under the direct supervision of the municipal commissioner. The Creek Flood Mitigation Committee will review progress every Monday.Officials said the technical committee, whose members are likely to be announced on Wednesday, will first prepare a preliminary report to determine the surveys required for understanding the city’s natural waterways. A Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) survey has been proposed to accurately map creek alignments, measure depths, and identify encroachments and obstructions. Additional studies, including hydrological surveys, will be undertaken if required.
