Guj sets up inquiry committee on Surat flooding

Ahmedabad, Aug 17: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today announced the setting up of a two-member judicial inquiry committee into the recent flooding of Surat city and surrounding areas due to release of large amounts of water from Ukai dam into Tapti river.

The inquiry committee, which has been set up under the Commission of Inquiry Act 1952, would be chaired by retired High Court Judge Ms Sugna Bhatt and former secretary of Narmada Water Resources Department R D Soni would be the other member, an official release said here late tonight.

The release of water from Ukai dam into Tapti River had flooded Surat city and down stream villages for almost five days, which resulted into loss of human lives and in properties worth several thousand crores.

The committee, will look into the reasons leading to the flooding of Surat. It will also inquire into the inflow and outflow of water from the dam and the measures taken by the administration to monitor and control the situation.

The two-member committee will also make recommendations to prevent reoccurrences of such disasters in future and will submit it report to the Gujarat Government by December this year, the official statement added.

The announcement of the inquiry committee is being seen as an attempt by Mr Modi to silence voices of criticism from within his party and opposition Congress Party on the issue.

UNI