Having spent three days without electricity, water, and basic resources following the city’s worst flood in 48 years, people in Vadodara are furious with the state administrative machinery and political leaders. 

A “flood visit” by political leaders including Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi on Aug 29 did not help the situation. Sanghavi met with local officials and then attempted to speak to residents of the city’s Sayajigunj area. However, he had to be rescued by the police, who set up a cordon between the minister and angry flood survivors. 

City BJP president Balkrishna (Balu) Shukla and local corporators also faced public ire when they visited Ajitanagar on Sama-Savli Road. 

Opposition stokes the fire

The Opposition — especially MLA from Anklav constituency and chairperson of the Gujarat Congress Amit Chavda — has been quick to strike while the iron is hot. 

According to Chavda, the flooding, in which water from the Vishwamitri river wreaked havoc on the city, is not a natural disaster. Instead, he said, it was the result of “corruption, mismanagement, and illegal constructions overseen by those who have been in power at the Vadodara Corporation for the past 30 years”.

Chavda was speaking to reporters after assessing the extent of the devastation in several flood-hit areas in Vadodara. 

“While natural calamities and heavy rainfall can occur, the repeated suffering of people due to the same reasons is the responsibility of those in power at the corporation,” he added. 

Also read:

Vadodara floodwaters recede, suffering prevails