DELUGE OF DOUBTS

Six months after Vadodara witnessed one of its worst floods in recent history, the Rs 1,200 crore Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project-announced by the Gujarat government to restore the river's carrying capacity and mitigate future flooding-is finally inching forward, but on a somewhat contentious course.

- By Jumana Shah

Once the city's lifeline, the Vishwamitri has now become a symbol of its struggle to balance development and ecological preservation. Last August, 9.4 inches of rain over 24 hours left 40 per cent of the city submerged in up to 11 feet of water for three days. As the Ajwa and Pratapgarh reservoirs overflowed, water poured into the Vishwamitri, which once had floodplains, wetlands and lakes connected by natural waterways-now largely replaced by concrete structures. With the river breaching its banks, marsh crocodiles wandered into kitchens and streets, while residents were stranded in posh bungalows and apartment buildings.

A study by IIT Gandhinagar found the flood was "likely exacerbated by extensive urban development in flood-prone areas, altered elevations, and drainage patterns compromised due to rapid urbanisation and clogged drainage systems". The tragedy, many argue, was a foretold one.

Two citizen groups-the Community Science Centre (CSC), led by scientist Dr M.H. Mehta, and the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara (CCV), comprising 20 environmental experts-had proposed detailed solutions to rejuvenate the river. The CSC's plan, which received in-principle government approval in 2008, included cleaning debris and creating a "bioshield" to prevent water from breaching the banks.