Flood damage to govt bodies in Surat pegged at Rs 300 cr

Various government agencies have suffered damages of over Rs 300 crore due to heavy rains and the consequent flood-like situation in Surat. This is in addition to the damage to houses, the assessment of which is in progress.

According to a survey by the roads & buildings department of the state government, it suffered losses of Rs 22.65 crore because of the rains. These were caused by way of damages to roads, bridges and government buildings in Surat.

A number of canals in Surat and Ukai circles were also affected by the rains, causing loss of Rs 7.05 crore to the irrigation department. Similarly, the energy department suffered an estimated loss of Rs 3.50 crore by way of damages to electric lines, transformers and light poles.

Pipelines and water tanks were damaged at many places in Surat district, causing losses of an estimated Rs 8.56 crore to the water supply department. The state transport department suffered losses of Rs 35 lakh on account of damage to many of its buses and other vehicles.

Surat District Panchayat too suffered heavy losses because of the incessant rains. The losses of district panchayat were a shade over Rs 20 crore because of damage to roads at many places in the district as well as damage to crops.

The Surat Municipal Corporation too suffered a great deal as the estimated damage caused to its roads and properties have been put at over Rs 20 crore.

The industries department suffered the highest losses amongst all government departments. This was because many industrial units were submerged under waters for days at a stretch.

The losses suffered by the department have been pegged at Rs 231 crore, but this figure is expected to increase significantly as many industries continue to be submerged under the water.

Additional district collector J B Vora, said on Monday: "These figures of the damage caused to the various departments have been compiled by the departments themselves after a survey. These are tentative of estimated figures.

"The exact figures would be known only after the detailed survey has been completed. We will be sending our report to the state government once we get the final figures."