Surat, July 15 – In a renewed push to tackle recurring Khadi flood issues caused by the overflow of the city’s Khadi during monsoon, flood control work in Surat has gained momentum following the formation of a high-level committee. With Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal appointed as the head of this committee, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has swiftly begun executing long-stalled projects to remove obstructions and improve water flow along the Khadi.
The operation, which commenced on Sunday, continued into Monday with active fieldwork across key Khadi flood-prone zones. In the eastern (Sarthana) zone, near Shiv Plaza Residency in the new Town Planning Scheme No. 21 (Sarthana-Simada), the corporation has started demolishing a deteriorated pipe culvert located along the 60-meter-wide iconic road. The culvert had long been closed to vehicular traffic due to safety concerns and was now being removed to ensure better flow of water.
Similar efforts are underway in the Bamroli area, where another aging culvert obstructing the Khadi’s natural path is being dismantled. Meanwhile, in Bhimrad, under TP Scheme No. 43, near the final plot number 81—home to a new residential project by SMC—the alignment of the Khadi is being adjusted and pressure points removed. The widening of the Khadi in this area is expected to facilitate smoother water discharge during heavy rainfall.
As per report, the Khadi, which flows through Surat district, often becomes a source of flooding during intense monsoon seasons. Delays in coordination between the state government and the municipal administration had long left several mitigation efforts pending. However, the recent flood incident, coupled with growing public discontent and the approach of municipal elections, has prompted swift administrative response.
According to SMC, while the ownership of the Khadi rests with the state government, maintenance of structures within municipal limits falls under the jurisdiction of the local body. Improved cooperation between both levels of governance has led to concrete steps being taken toward flood control.
The activation of the committee under the leadership of Shalini Agarwal has led to expedited implementation of projects that had been in limbo for years. This has renewed hope among city residents that the perennial flooding problem could finally be addressed with lasting solutions.
