BJP MLA Slams Surat Administration over Flood Mismanagement

BJP MLA and former Gujarat Health Minister Kumar Kanani has criticised the Surat administration over the recurring creek flooding, alleging that review meetings held after last year's floods resulted in no concrete action and left lakhs of residents suffering again this monsoon.

Speaking amid the ongoing flood situation, Kanani said the decisions taken during last year's high-level review meetings remained confined to paper, while administrative failure and poor planning have allowed the same crisis to recur.

‘Review meetings remained a formality’

Following heavy rainfall, overflowing creeks inundated several parts of Surat, with floodwaters entering thousands of homes. Even a day after the rain stopped, water remained stagnant in many areas, disrupting normal life.

Kanani said that despite assurances made after last year's floods, no meaningful progress had been made towards a permanent solution.

“If the decisions taken during the review meetings had been implemented, lakhs of people would not have been forced to face flooding again this year,” he said.

Calls for scientific flood management

The BJP leader urged the administration to carry out scientific and technical surveys of the city’s creeks, divert excess water wherever necessary, strengthen the drainage network and implement a long-term flood management master plan.

He said creek flooding has now become a consequence of administrative inaction rather than merely a natural disaster.

'Time for accountability'

Kanani alleged that the administration has failed to provide a permanent solution to the recurring flood problem.

He said annual review meetings and announcements have become a routine exercise, while the same problems resurface with every spell of heavy rain. He called for accountability, strict action against lapses and immediate implementation of long-term measures to prevent future flooding.