Japan K Pathak

Earlier article of this series – Vishwamitri has long history of flooding Vadodara; Campbell in 1883 wrote that it ‘frequently overflows in monsoons’

Next articles of this series – 1927 flood of Vishwamitri in Vadodara attracted global attention amid reports of Ajwa dam burst and 1000 deaths

More Vishwamitri floods in Vadodara in 20th & 21st centuries; highest rain of June on record in 2005 caused first flood of century

2014 was a lackluster monsoon for Vadodara, but then came a surprise as September brought flood

2019: When Unprecedented Extremely Heavy Rains and Flooding Vishwamitri Stalled the City of Vadodara for 5 Days

Vishwamitri river flood in Vadodara in August 2024; What caused it, how it started, progressed and ended

River Vishwamitri’s nature to overflow and flood in the Monsoons with excess rainfall was well-recognized in Cambell’s notes in pre-Ajwa dam years. Later Ajwa dam was conceived and built, purely for creation of a reliable water source for 1.20 lakh population of Vadodara city.

In the year 1894 compilation by the The Institute of Civil Engineers, edited by James Forrest, under the title of Impounding-Reservoirs in India and The Design of Masonry Dams’, the chapter named ‘The Baroda Waterworks’ was penned down by Jagannath Sadashivji, the man who planned and executed Sayaji Sarovar, better known as Ajwa dam.

Sadashivji indicates that the initial idea was to bring a new supply of water for Vadodara from the Narmada river and it was contemplated in 1866 by Maharaja Khanderao. (In fact Philip W. Sergeant in his book(1928) The Ruler of Baroda writes – ‘Being anxious to provide the city with good drinking-water, which it then almost entirely lacked, Khanderao took up a scheme for a waterway to be constructed from the Narbada River all the way to Baroda at the expense of R 3,600,000. Next year, finding the scheme impracticable, he diverted the money he had intended for it to Makarpura Palace, to the purchase of new jewelry, to the casting of two silver guns, and to the giving of magnificent arena sports for the people. ‘)

આ જ લેખ ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચોઃ આજવા બંધ વડોદરામાં સરેરાશ 39 ઇંચ વરસાદ પડે તે માપે બંધાયો હતો, હવે સરેરાશ થઇ છે 42.24 ઇંચ

Sadashivji in his paper stated – ‘The city of baroda, containing a population of about one hundred and twenty thousand, was until recently dependent for its water-supply upon tanks and wells in its immediate vicinity. The idea of bringing a new supply of water from the Nerbudda river was first contemplated in 1866 by His Highness the late Maharaja Khanderao; and his proposal was then investigated by the late Mr. A. W. Forde. The subject subsequently engaged the attention of numerous engineers, and other schemes were projected or investigated by Messrs. T. P. S. Crosthwait, J. H. E. Hart and T. D. Little.’

However in the course of this exercise the idea shifted from Narmada to river Surya.

‘Shortly after the accession of the present Maharaja Gaikwar of Baroda, the author (Jagannath Sadasewejee) proposed a scheme by which that water could be obtained from the river Surya at Jafferpur, which is within His Highness’s Territory. The survey of this project was undertaken by the Author in 1883, and, after having been favourably reported upon by Mr. Playford Reynolds and by Lieutenant General C.J. Merriman, the scheme was sanctioned by the Gaikwar on the 26th November, 1884, and work commenced in January 1885. ‘

The dam was planned for 30 lakh gallons daily water supply to 1.20 lakh people of Vadodara.

‘The undertaking involved the construction of an impounding reservoir 12 miles north-east of Baroda, with waste-weir and outlet-works ; a 30 inch cast-iron main ; settling-tanks and purification-works, a covered service-reservoir, and distribution-works. The works were designed to afford a constant daily supply of 3,000,000 gallons to 120,000 consumers.  The catchment-area of the Sayaji Sarovar, as the impounding reservoir has been named, is 36.2 square miles. The water-spread at top-water level is 4.72 square miles.‘

It is very interesting to note here the average 39 inches rainfall in Vadodara in the previous 17 years was considered as a reference figure while planning the Ajwa dam. Also the count of average rainfall in Vadodara and Halol was matched(even today if the average of 10 years of rainfall of Vadodara and Halol is matched, it’s surprisingly the same).

‘The result of 17 years’ rainfall observations at Baroda showed a mean(average)  rainfall of 39 inches, and a mean(average) rainfall of 33 inches for three consecutive dry years(The rainfall of the years 1869, 1870 and 1871 was 37 inches, 34 inches and 28 inches respectively). These figures were adopted as applicable to the neighbourhood of the proposed reservoir, being less than those of rainfall observations for the same period at Halol, which lies eastward, as Baroda is westward, of the catchment-area.‘

10-year average rainfall in Vadodara (in Inches)
Year	Average Period	Vadodara
2015	1985-2014	38.03
2016	1986-2015	38.46
2017	1987-2016	38.78
2018	1988-2017	39.09
2019	1989-2018	38.94
2020	1990-2019	40.75
2021	1991-2020	41.3
2022	1992-2021	41.77
2023	1993-2022	42.2
2024	1994-2023	42.24

Against this 39 inches of average rainfall of 17 years then(in late 19th century) in Vadodara, the latest count of 10 years average rainfall in Vadodara as of 2024 is 42.24 inches. In fact in 2015 the 10-year average rainfall in Vadodara was 38.03 mm, but in the last 10 years only it has gone up by nearly 4 inches and the last 10 years average rainfall count as of 2024 is over 42 inches. The average rainfall of 10 years in Halol as of 2024 is little above 42 inches(42.87 inches), in line with Vadodara.

‘The loss by evaporation from the reservoir was assumed to be 72 inches annually.  The reservoir is formed by an earthen embankment across the Surya river, 14,400 feet in length, and 54 feet in maximum height, storing 1,287,000,000 cubic feet of water. The embankment is constructed principally on earth excavated from the waste-water-course which is situated at its northern extremity. The top-breadth, which is uniform throughout, is 15 feet. The top embankment is 16 feet above the top-water level, or reduced to mean sea-level, at R.L. 224.00. ……the outer slope is 2.5 to 1 between Wagli nullah and the Surya river…. Before commencing to build, the site throughout was completely cleared of vegetable mould, trees and shrubs, and the sand and silt were removed from the area forming the foundation in the bed of the Surya river and the Wagli nullah….‘

The Ajwa dam was built to serve the needs of water for 1.20 lakh people then. The population of Vadodara is now over 3 millions. The city is third largest in Gujarat, but it is larger in terms of population and area compared to two State capitals of neighboring States – Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The reference point of 39 inch average rainfall in Vadodara and Halol is also no more relevant. The average rainfall has jumped and the recent trend shows continuous rise.

While the dam was conceived, planned and built as the main source of water for Vadodara, as of 2024 it is now one of main sources and not the only main source. If you look at today’s scenario, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation(VMC) data suggests, Ajwa contributed 145 MLD out of the total 457 MLD water supply to Vadodara. Greater than Ajwa, 250 MLD supply comes from Radial Collector Wells in river Mahi, while 25 MLD comes from Tube Wells and 37 MLD from Khanpur Narmada river bed based water treatment plant(water treatment plant near Khanpur village constructed for design capacity of 75 MLD under Narmada river bed with intake well, water filteration plant and 8 km long transmission line at cost of nearly Rs. 6500 lakhs).

Present Water Supply Scenario of  Vadodara City
Ajwa / Nimeta	145 MLD
Radial Collector Wells	250 MLD
Tube wells	25 MLD
Khanpur	37 MLD
Total	457 MLD

The population estimate for the year 2040 is 36.2 lakh. VMC will need to create sources for 141 MLD additional volume of water by 2031 and 273 MLD by 2040.

Under the JnNURM scheme, nearly Rs. 1000 lakh sum was spent for strengthening work of storage capacity increased from 1879 MCFT to 2231 MCFT(design capacity) of Sayaji Sarovar(Ajwa dam).

It’s worth recalling the gems in the speech delivered on the 29th of March 1892, at the formal inauguration of the supply of water to the city of Baroda from the reservoir at Ajwa by Sayajirao Gaekwad III.

‘Chronologically, it was my railways that first occupied my thoughts. I am right glad that I have already seen 118 miles of railway constructed and can look forward to further progress. It is not only that the public convenience has been consulted, but my scattered dominions are now linked together by the iron road, to the improvement of the administration of the headquarters of my talukas. These are now tied together – Patan, Sidhpur, Kheralu, Vadnagar, Visnagar, Mehsana, Kalol, Petlad, Baroda, Dabhoi, Sankheda, Karjan, Navsari, Gandevi and in the near future, I hope many other places will also be.‘

‘But today I put the thought of my railways aside and joyfully confess that I look upon the Ajwa reservoir and this water scheme as the most important single public work brought to completion since my accession to power. ‘

‘I am well content with your suggestion that the artificial lake should be called the ‘Sayaji Sarovar’, and so let it be. But in my mind I shall associate with this work the names of Mr. Playford Reynolds and Mr. Jagannath Sadashivji.‘

‘The Laxmi Vilas palace has, perhaps, cost more, but I cannot strictly place among works of public utility the construction of that richly chiselled pile and of the costly Makarpura Palace, now encircled by the tasteful gardens we owe to Mr. Goldring. No, it is this gift of pure filtered water that I am most pleased to have bestowed upon the capital.‘

‘The great domes College, the Countess of Dufferin Hospital, the School whose tower we can discern from here on the bank of the reservoir which my predecessor gave to Baroda, the Chimnabai Market which will cover all the space on which we stand, the Museum in the Public Park, the vast public offices which are in contemplation, all these monuments of my friend Mr. Chisholm’s skill are works of utility and adornment to Baroda and will be revealed to us as one harmonious whole, when, after solving out next great difficulty, the proper conservancy of the city, we shall rapidly widen and readjust our main streets and communications according to plans I have long since matured.‘

‘But all these to my mind are nought (zero or nothing), compared with this blessing of pure water, the first requisite of sanitary well-being : abundance of water, sanitary reform, these are the good things I wish to give my people in profusion.’

‘…….. To do better in future, we must aim high, very high. We must use more dispatch, summon up more courage, enforce and submit to more discipline, and cherish more public spirit. Then will the stream of our progress flow smoothly and pure, and reach all our homes, as does this water from Ajwa which cleanses our lips, fortifies our bodies, and bids our spirits rejoice.‘

A newspaper report on inauguration of the Ajwa water-works stated it was built at a cost of nearly Rs. 30 lakhs of rupee and it was named as Sayaji Sarovar at the people’s request. Jagannath Sadhivji, the Water-Works Engineer, was presented with a diamond ring and a dress on this occassion.

It’s interesting to see once again that the word ‘flood’ was nowhere mentioned in the speech. Same was the case of Sadashivji’s paper. The flood aspect which Cambell time and again highlighted in reference to the city of Vadodara and river Vishwamitri, was not discussed here. The Ajwa dam was built purely to address the drinking water requirement of Vadodara and the sanitation issue.

The Census of India book of 1901 volume XVIII part – 1 by Jameshdji Ardeshir Dalal, Superitendent of Census Operations of Baroda State, mentions how Sayaji Sarovar improved the health of the city of Vadodara where epidemic diseases had their hold previously.

‘Sayaji Sarovar constructed very recently to supply potable water to the city. An aqueduct from the Vishwamitri river has, only in the last famine of 1899, been dug out to replenish it. Tha damming of the waters in the Sarovar called Sayaji Sarovar, after its noble and munificent donor, and the liberal supply of its filtered waters to all parts of this old city, formerly seething with epidemic diseases, originating in unwholesome and scanty water, have had a marvellous effect in improving the health of the city, where these diseases have lost their hold now. ‘

The dam is worth a visit. The road leading to the dam from Vadodara is named after Sadashivji. It’s a high respect for an engineer and the entire engineering fraternity. Budding passionate engineers need to visit this dam which is strong and sturdy after over 125 years. I am limiting myself to portray the historical context linked to the broad idea of this series and ignoring my temptation to share more exciting details regarding unique features of the dam here.

In the next article of this series we will see post-Ajwa dam how the great 1927 flood of Vadodara was and how it was discussed worldwide. DeshGujarat

Next article of series: 1927 flood of Vishwamitri in Vadodara attracted global attention amid reports of Ajwa dam burst and 1000 deaths

The author can be reached at japanpathak @ gmail . com