SURAT: The city will have at least three storm water drain pumping stations at different places to prevent water-clogging in its low-lying areas during the monsoon season.
Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) will work with Surat Climate Change Trust (SCCT) and Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) in the project as a show of support to the work being done by Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN).
A team of CDIA officials held meeting with SMC officials in this connection on Thursday. The two sides will have another round of meeting here on Friday.
"We are constructing embankments to prevent floods when Tapi is in spate. When more than 3 lakh cusecs of water is released from upstream, we have to close all the flood gates as the low-lying areas of the city get inundated. The pumping stations will pump out the deposited water," SCCT chairman and SMC city engineer Jatin Shah said.
SMC plans to set up storm water drain pumping stations at Kadarsha ni Naal in central zone, at Bharimata and at Chaprabhatha. Municipal commissioner Manoj Das said, "We would like to get training for our staff in the maintenance of the pumping stations. Multi-national grant is okay but we are not keen on long-term multinational loan."
The other proposals that would be discussed at the meeting are the second phase of Mindhola river rehabilitation project, Baloon barrage project, Kakrapar water pipeline project, flood gate modification water, recycling and six other projects, sources said.
Rockefeller Foundation has given $I million grant to the city for projects to tackle the problems caused by climate change.
Surat would be the only city in the country, which will have storm water drain pumping stations, sources added.
