Vadodara rains

Small traders affected by the recent floods in Vadodara have received direct financial aid of ₹5.25 crore from the state government so far.

The financial aid was given under the special relief package announced by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The amounts have been directly deposited into the traders’ bank accounts, said officials in Vadodara today.

Municipal Commissioner Dilip Rana and Collector Bijal Shah ordered 200 surveyors to assess the damage and expedite the relief process. These surveyors began their work on September 17, and despite many shops being closed due to the weekend and festival, they continued their operations.

Resident Deputy Collector Dr B S Prajapati informed that 3,555 traders have received the assistance so far. This includes ₹1.19 crore credited to 2,370 handcart vendors, ₹80.60 lakh to 403 small cabin traders, ₹3 crore to 752 large cabin traders, and ₹25.50 lakh to 30 traders with permanent shops.

City Sub-Divisional Officer V K Sambde stated that the surveyors are working swiftly to ensure the traders receive assistance as soon as possible. The state government has allocated ₹25 crore for this relief effort.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has established a five-member committee to conduct a thorough field investigation into the causes of flooding in Vadodara and propose measures to mitigate future flood risks. A senior official stated that the committee will assess the water-carrying capacity of these bodies, conduct site inspections, and submit a comprehensive report with recommendations for mitigating future flood risks.

The committee will be chaired by B N Navalawala, former advisor to the chief minister and former secretary in the Government of India. Other members include S S Rathore, advisor to the Chief Minister; M N Rai, an engineer from the Central Water Commission; Prof. Gopal Bhatti from the civil engineering department at Maharaja Sayajirao University; and the municipal commissioner of Vadodara.

The committee’s mandate includes a detailed examination of the Ajwa Reservoir, Pratappura Sarovar, and the Vishwamitri River, along with their catchment areas.

(This story was taken from a syndicated feed, and edited only for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital staff)

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