Vadodara Starts Pumping Ajwa Sarovar to Prevent Floods

Vadodara, Gujarat – The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (SMC) is making desperate efforts to prevent a repeat of the devastating flood in the Vishwamitri river witnessed in 2024. For the first time in the history of the VMC, the process of emptying the water of Ajwa Sarovar through 6 pumps has been started. It is noteworthy that a total of 14 pumps have been installed.

Learning from the situation created due to the devastating floods in the Vishwamitri river last year, the office bearers and elected representatives of the Vadodara corporation have decided to take precautionary measures before the rains this year. On Tuesday,  at Ajwa Sarovar, Mayor Pinkiben Soni, Municipal Commissioner Arun Babu, Standing Committee Chairman Dr. Sheetal Mistry, office bearers and officials of the corporation inaugurated the heavy-duty pumps after performing formal puja and released water from Ajwa Sarovar to Surya river. 

Giving information, Municipal Commissioner Arun Babu said that to avoid a possible flood situation in the Vishwamitri river, Vadodara Corporation has installed a total of 14 pumps at Ajwa Sarovar. Out of which 6 pumps have been made operational from Tuesday. Through these powerful pumps, the water of Ajwa Sarovar is being released into the Surya river. Currently, the level of Ajwa Sarovar is 211 feet, which has been targeted to be reduced to 208 feet.

He further said that this process will continue for three consecutive days. Due to which the water level of the lake will decrease by 3 feet. It is worth mentioning that the danger level of Ajwa Sarovar is 214 feet. Due to heavy rains in the last monsoon, both Ajwa Sarovar and Vishwamitri river were overflowing, causing terrible floods in the city. This flood had a major impact on public life and caused extensive damage. This plan has been made by the Vadodara municipal corporation  to prevent a flood situation this year.

The chairman of the standing committee, Dr. Sheetal Mistry, said that under this process that started today, about 16,800 cubic meters of water will be pumped out of the Ajwa dam and  poured into the Surya River every hour. Due to this water emptying operation, it is hoped that the water level in the Ajwa Sarovar and the Vishwamitri River can be controlled in the upcoming heavy rains.

Mayor Pinkiben Soni said that there is a strong possibility that this step can save the city from the fury of floods. Apart from this, the municipal corporation has made all efforts to save the people of the city from the flood in the Vishwamitri River.