UPDATE: In good news for flood-hit Vadodara, Vishwamitri water level start decreasing after over 24 hours

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Vadodara: So the question is, when will the Vishwamitri flood water start receding? No one is prepared to answer this question because though the situation is very dynamic but all signs are positive.

On Tuesday evening, the city municipal commissioner announced a decision to shut all 62 gates of Ajwa Dam and also the gates of Pratap Sarovar. The decision was made in consultation with the state government. Additionally, a decision was made to close the gates of Dev Dam to relieve the Dhadhar River. A couple of elected representatives present in the flood control room of Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) said on camera that the level of Vishwamitri River would start easing by morning. However, the water level, which is 35.25 feet, remained steady not just in the morning but throughout the day. This means the impact of closing Ajwa, Dev, and Pratap Sarovar was not realized during the day, contrary to predictions by MLAs. In fact, many doubted whether the gates were closed at all, or if it was just an announcement. However this is just a rumor. The gates of Ajwa are actually closed and so as Pratappura. It’s worth noting that water automatically start downflowing from Ajwa when the level reaches 213.85. However the level has steadied at 213.75 today so there’s no question of release of water from there at this level as the administration has decided for it.

It’s worth noting that as per the rules, the level of 212 feet needs to be maintained at Ajwa, and surplus water needs to be released. However, the government made the risky decision to allow the level to rise to 213.65 feet to ease the flooding of Vishwamitri. After this decision was taken and announced on Tuesday, the level at Ajwa rose to 213.75 feet. It has been steady at that level since this morning.

Ministers Rushikesh Patel and Jagdish Panchal, who were sent to the city today by the Chief Minister, did not commit to any timeline for the reduction of the Vishwamitri water level. Patel, in response to a direct question, explained that the Vishwamitri River does not receive water solely from Ajwa Dam and Pratap Sarovar. The river also receives floodwater from many ungated reservoirs (lakes, ponds) along its route and from farms, villages, and other catchment areas. Patel said that even when the gates of dams are closed, water continues to flow into the river due to rainfall. He mentioned that 15 to 20 hours after the rainfall stops, the level of Vishwamitri should start decreasing.

It is worth noting that Patel in his briefing today and the VMC commissioner in his briefing yesterday stated that the level of Vishwamitri was 37 feet. However, the VMC control room shows the figure as 35.25 feet. This discrepancy is because the measuring mark at Kalaghoda Bridge in Vadodara is up to 35.25 feet. The measuring system is below the bridge. Once the water starts overtopping Kalaghoda Bridge, the official measurement in the control room shows 35.25 feet, but due to overtopping, the actual measurement can be 37 feet. One complaint citizens are making on social media is regarding the non-availability of sensor data. The sensor data for the water level was available on the VMC website in a specific section but has since stopped. It is learned that this is because the sensors are submerged in water and that the system would not work beyond a certain point, which has been crossed this time.

Now, coming to the question of when the Vishwamitri water level will go down. If we revisit the 2014 flood when the level was around 34.50 feet, it started decreasing 24 hours after Ajwa Dam’s gates were closed. The decrease was rapid then. So, if the administration closed the gates of Ajwa Dam last evening, the effect should be visible by today (Wednesday) evening. The situation in 2014 and 2024 is not the same, but at least similar.

One positive aspect amid many challenges is that the rainfall has shifted to coastal Saurashtra. Thus, Panchmahal and other parts of Central Gujarat that contribute to Ajwa and Vishwamitri have received rainfall, but it has been quite insignificant compared to the past five days. It’s a relief. Today Vadodara also witnessed some sunlight after several days of continuous cloudy skies.

Vishwamitri flows beyond Vadodara to merge into the Dhadhar River. The Dhadhar River carries its own water discharged from Dev Dam. The closure of Dev Dam’s gates would result in less water from Dhadhar in the Dhadhar River. Because this means Dhadhar would carry more water from Vishwamitri toward the sea. Hopes are high among lakhs of Barodians and well-wishers to see the level go down from 35.25 feet by Thursday morning.

Once again, the level below 31 feet would resolve the waterlogging issue affecting 70 percent of Gujarat’s third-largest city. A level around 30 feet would lead to the reopening of six bridges. A level around or below 29 feet would result in the reopening of Kala Ghoda Bridge and return the city to routine life. The danger level is actually 26 feet, but below 29 feet is sufficient to restore normalcy.

DeshGujarat