Gandhinagar, Aug 3 (IANS) Gujarat’s Water Resources Department has strengthened its flood management system for the monsoon season by operating a round-the-clock Central Flood Control Unit in Gandhinagar and a network of 12 regional control units that continuously monitor water levels, inflows, outflows and rainfall across 207 reservoirs in the state.
The department said the technology-driven system has been enhanced to improve flood preparedness and water resource management at a time when climate change has led to more frequent heavy and extremely heavy rainfall events.
Under the supervision of Minister of State for Water Resources and Water Supply, Ishwarsinh Patel, the Central Flood Control Unit has been reinforced to ensure continuous monitoring of reservoir operations throughout the monsoon.
The department updated its Disaster Management Plan and Telephone Directory before the onset of the season and uploaded them to the Reservoir Data Management System portal.
The Central Flood Control Unit in Gandhinagar, together with 12 Regional Flood Control Units located at Ukai, Surat, Daman Ganga, Vadodara, Nadiad, Godhra, Ahmedabad, Himmatnagar, Visnagar, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Bhuj, operates 24 hours a day.
According to the department, the network monitors 18 major, 86 medium and 103 minor reservoirs, including the Sardar Sarovar Reservoir.
Water level information for major dams is updated every hour, while detailed reports are prepared twice daily at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and shared with senior officials and relevant departments.
The state has also strengthened communication links for flood management. Twelve dedicated hotline connections have been established between the Central Water Commission (CWC) and Gujarat’s Regional Flood Control Units, while 14 major reservoirs have been equipped with satellite phones.
A total of 413 wireless sets are operational across dams and regional units, comprising 304 belonging to the state government and 109 provided by the CWC, alongside mobile and landline communication systems.
The CWC supplies inflow and flood forecasts for major inter-state rivers, including the Narmada, Tapi, Sabarmati, Mahi, Daman Ganga, Banas and Shetrunji.
The department said these forecasts support timely decisions on reservoir operations and controlled water releases during periods of heavy rainfall.
The Flood Control Unit also works in coordination with the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), where reservoir conditions are reviewed during weekly Weather Watch Group meetings.
Weather forecasts issued by the India Meteorological Department and reservoir warning messages are shared with state and district authorities to support local preparedness.
In addition, the Geospatial Cell in Gandhinagar has developed digital maps of irrigation projects and flood inundation maps to identify vulnerable areas in advance, enabling faster planning and response during the monsoon.
The department said Deputy Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers and support staff work in three shifts at both the Central Flood Control Unit and the SEOC to maintain continuous surveillance of reservoir conditions.
A dedicated emergency vehicle also remains on standby throughout the monsoon season. Reservoir status is available to the public through the state’s online Reservoir Data Management System portal.
–IANS
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