Vadodara, 11 September 2014

Gujarat Congress today termed Vadodara flood disaster as man-made calamity. Former state Congress president Siddharth Patel in a statement said that on 7 September, Ajwa’s level was 213 ft and inflow was on, but administration didn’t open the gates in phased wise manner, and later when the level went up significantly, the government opened all the gates together on 9 September though 8 September was poonam(full moon) when sea would not take water due to high tide. Due to this decision Vishwamitri water entered into city and rural areas of district. Patel said flood could be prevented if gates were opened in advance in phased wise manner. He said the administration didn’t consider the basic fact that on full moon date, sea would not accept water. He said the government didn’t learn anything from year 2006 Surat flood which again was man-made disaster. Patel sought judicial inquiry headed by sitting judge of High Court. Siddharth Patel and Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry presented a memorandum in this regard to Collector of Vadodara and asked to see that such calamity may not repeat in future.