GCZMA Orders Probe in Tapi Embankment violation in Surat

Surat : The Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has ordered the Surat district collector and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to conducted a thorough inquiry and take action against the responsible officials and individuals for the violation of the provision of embankment scheme along Tapi river at Bhatha village in Surat by illegal filling of the soil to raise the height and thereby causing the danger of floods for the residents. 

DM Thakar, director (environment) and member secretary of GCZMA issued a letter to Surat district collector Saurabh Pardhi and GPCB for conducting inquiry into the Tapi embankment violation and sending the action taken report to the office of the Chief Minister. 

Darshan Naik, a social activist, had written to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel demanding the cancellation of Non-Agriculture (NA) orders 608, 627, and 628 for blatantly violating the provisions of the embankment scheme along the Tapi River at Bhatha village  in Surat, putting the city at risk of flooding.

Some of the big realtors and diamond barons are in the spotlight for constructing roads, compound walls, and other infrastructure on their private lands located on the flood plain zone on the bank of River Tapi, thereby inviting flood destruction for tens of thousands of residents in the Bhatha and Pal areas of Adajan, Gujarat. 

There are around 1000 to 1200 bigha of gauchar (pastoral land) and 300 to 350 bigha of private land on the banks of the Tapi river at Bhatha village in  Choryasi taluka of Surat district. 

In the past, the local peasants used rotational farming in this area. The area is a low-lying flood plain zone along the Tapi River. If there is additional rain and flooding in the Tapi River, the region will be submerged. During the monsoon season, rainwater from this area used to drain into the sea via the river. As a result, there was no concern with rainwater flooding. However, the installation of compound walls, roads, and other infrastructure on private properties controlled by builders and diamond barons has jeopardised the flood-like situation. 

According to Naik, a large amount of sand filling is taking place along the banks of the Tapi River, in violation of the embankment project. Government land along the Tapi River’s banks is being unlawfully excavated without the district administration’s approval. 

According to the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011-19, block numbers 608 and 628 are within the “Hazard Line” and are part of the CRZ region. Also, when the Tapi River flooded in 2006, BISAG-N prepared maps. According to the maps, a construction zone was established 30 to 150 meters from the riverbank. Survey/Block Nos. 608, 627, and 628 were also shown to have a full erosion area. That is, these block numbers are in the floodplain zone, and there is a high possibility of water filling. 

The Surat district collector directed an investigation to the Provincial Officer of Olpad taluka, and the findings were detailed in a report dated June 25, 2024. However, the proponents of blocks 608, 627, and 628 have disregarded all data by erecting cement walls and filling the ground to a high level.  It appears that it will cause a flood crisis.

Definition of Hazard Line according to CRZ Notification 2019:-

The phrase ‘Hazard Line’ refers to the line drawn by the Survey of India (SOI) for the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) that takes into consideration tides, waves, sea level rise, and coastline alterations. A hazard line is one that is vulnerable to severe weather and natural disasters like tsunamis. The Coastal Zone Management Plan includes hazard lines for meteorological events and natural calamities such as tsunamis. According to the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification and the Coastal Zone Management Plan, all economic urban development operations must include this line.