Case-study /
End-to-End Early Warning System for Ukai and Local Flood in Surat City
Goal:
Reduce the intensity of floods and resultant flood damage to Surat.
Surat City:
The City of Surat is one of the most prosperous (also known as Diamond City) city in India. Surat city, located on bank of River Tapi is India’s twelfth and Gujarat’s second most populous city with a population of 4.46 million (Census, 2011). Surat is the commercial capital of the Gujarat state. It is both a trade and industrial center. Its industries include textile manufacturing and diamond cutting. In addition to these, there are chemical, petrochemical and natural gas based industries at Hazira (located near the city). It is a pivotal center on the Delhi-Mumbai regional corridor.
Project Overview:
Surat has been facing floods since formation of the city. Even after the building of the Ukai dam, the floods continued to damage the city. Due to rapid growth and expansion of the city, the flood damages are increasing especially since the last two decades, with the frequency of floods staying at least once in four years. 2006 Floods (due to emergency release from Ukai dam) inundated 75% area of the City. Its population in 2011 was 4.46 million and it is expected to grow. The growth of the city population is exacerbated by a large contingent of floating population of one million or more. This phenomenal growth has expanded the city to non-residential flood prone areas on both the banks of river Tapi.
Hydrological models and flood risk studies (ACCCRN Phase II) have indicated increase in frequency and intensity for river discharges leading to needs for emergency releases. City wide vulnerability analysis (ACCCRN Phase II) has indicated the high vulnerability of households (especially slum dwellers and poor residing in riverine areas) as well as industries and other economic activities.
Based on the observed trends of floods in past and the water management practice related issues at Ukai Dam, a simplified decision support system using state of the art technology can help in better management of water release (minimize risks of flooding and risk of lack of irrigation water in summer).
ACCCRN Phase III initiated with intervention project titled “End-to-End Early Warning System for Ukai and Local Floods in Surat City”. The project is being implemented by Surat Climate Change Trust (SCCT), which was established under supervision of Surat Municipal Corporation.
Aim:
To set up an End-to-End Early Warning System that will be used for floods caused by extreme precipitation events in Upper and Middle Tapi basin as well as Khadi (tidal creeks) floods.
Vision:
A state of art warning system of the reservoir levels and strategies to minimize flood discharges from the reservoirs and consequences on the city, which will also set up an advance warning system to inform the city administration to take remedial action in case of extreme situations.
Objectives of Project:
The main objective of this project is to reduce the intensity of floods and resultant flood damage to Surat through:
- Improved Reservoir operation to minimize peak floods,
- Better preparation of institutions and society to handle flood emergencies
Stakeholders:
- Surat Climate Change Trust (SCCT)
- Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC)
- Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SGCCI)