Surat Civic Body to Spend ₹30 Crore on Meethi Creek Desilting to Tackle Flooding

Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is preparing to issue a tender worth an estimated ₹30–31 crore for dredging a 13-kilometre stretch of Meethi Khadi to address the recurring problem of creek flooding in the city. The proposed work involves removing silt to a depth of three to four feet, along with its transportation and disposal at a designated site.

The tender process is being finalised, and the civic body is expected to issue it within the next day or two. Municipal Commissioner Rajkumar Beniwal has directed officials to expedite the process following discussions in Gandhinagar on measures to prevent flooding of the khadi. The tender has been finalised after consultations with officials from the concerned departments and the consultant agency.

According to estimates, the dredging work alone will cost around ₹24.82 crore. The additional cost of transporting and disposing of the extracted silt and debris will take the total project expenditure to approximately ₹30–31 crore. The work is proposed to be carried out through an appointed agency.

The initiative is part of efforts to address the recurring flooding of the khadi, which has reportedly affected the city every one to two years. While the immediate focus is on dredging, the civic administration is also pursuing long-term planning to find a permanent solution to the problem.

Site Outside City Selected for Silt Disposal

The disposal of silt and debris generated during the dredging of Meethi Khadi had emerged as a major challenge for the municipal corporation. Initially, officials considered using multiple plots in the affected areas. However, owing to practical difficulties, the administration decided to transport the extracted material to a single location.

Following an assessment conducted over the past three days, a site outside the city has been finalised for disposal. The tender will specify the arrangements for transporting and disposing of the extracted silt.

Special Committee to Verify Flood Mitigation Report

The municipal corporation has also constituted a special committee to review and cross-verify the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the consultant agency for khadi flood mitigation.

The committee will examine the existing condition of the khadi, available records, measurements and maps. It will compare the information provided in the report with actual site conditions and recommend necessary corrections or modifications to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the proposed flood mitigation plan.