Water level kept high to keep ‘cruises’ afloat, BJP MLAs concerned about river level, Congress says – interest in cruise management instead of citizens | If ‘Akshar River Cruise’ cannot be repeated everywhere in the route from Uttle Bridge to Dadhichi Bridge, even after spending 2 thousand, the desire to see the view of Ahmedabad from the boat will remain incomplete.

The controversy over running a cruise in the Sabarmati river has been going on since its inauguration. A few days after the start of the cruise, heavy rains fell in Ahmedabad and many areas around the river were flooded, the main reason being that the water level of the Sabarmati river was maintained at 134 feet. Why this water level had to be maintained? Because, if the cruise has to float in the river and turn around the whole route in a period of one and a half hours then the water level is necessary. The BJP MLA wrote a letter to lower the river level.

This dispute has not been resolved, but it has been said that if there is low water, the cruise cannot move everywhere. A minimum water depth of 6 to 8 feet is required for cruising. This is what the cruise captain said in a chat with Divya Bhaskar, but it is true. Now this raises some basic questions, was there no investigation of the average depth of the Sabarmati river before the cruise? If there is heavy rain, the water of the city will be back instead of flowing into the river, I have not understood the issue from the experts?

People’s desire to enjoy a boat ride in the river (even at a cost of Rs 2000 of course) will remain unfulfilled if cruises cannot go anywhere due to the depth of the river? Divya Bhaskar tried to understand all these things from the cruise captain and corporation officials. The most important thing is the safety of the cruise. Read our ground report today by Anirudh Makwana…

25 easy The first round is incomplete
Cruise cum floating restaurants started on Monday last 10th. 1800 for lunch and 2000 for dinner per person in this river cruise. One trip of the cruise takes about one and a half hours. Before which only 25 outings were found in Fera. The cruise cum floating restaurants route is from Atal Bridge to Dadichi Bridge, but due to low water level in the river, the cruise was taken only to Ambedkar Bridge. The water level in the river needs to be maintained above 130 feet to operate the cruise, but the cruise was not taken to Dadichi Bridge on the first day itself as there was no fixed level. It may be mentioned that, despite heavy rains to maintain the water level of Sabarmati for running cruises last week, the water was not drained. Due to this, many areas of the river bank were flooded even in a few rains.

The level of the river has to be continuously monitored: Capt
In this matter, Divya Bhaskar had a conversation with the captain of the Sabarmati River Cruise. He also made a ground report about what the level of the river should be and whether river cruises can be run in the current conditions of the river. In which in a conversation with Captain Ashokbhai Bambania, who runs the Akshar river cruise in the Sabarmati river, he said that when we take a river cruise and pass by Uttlebridge, we have to operate the cruise very carefully. Because, the water level near the bridge is very low. During the cruise we are constantly monitoring the river level. If the level shows four feet then we cannot take the cruise forward and the cruise is brought back from there.

It is necessary to know the river level at 134 feet to operate the cruise
He further said that when river cruises are conducted, a height of eight feet above the river bed level is required. A river cruise can be run only if the level of the Sabarmati river is eight feet. When the river cruise was started, the water level in the Sabarmati river had to be raised a lot. River cruises are possible only if the water level of the river front is kept at eight feet.

A live rescue boat is also available on the cruise
Regarding the safety of the passengers in the cruise, it was said that when the cruise goes into the river from the jetty, the cruise is locked. After reaching the middle of the river, permission is given to allow people to move around in the cruise. When there are people standing above, there is also a security guard. In case a person accidentally falls into the river, we also have a life jacket and a 100 meter rope that we can throw and pull people out. A live rescue boat is also kept, which can reach immediate help in case of emergency.

Captain Ashokbhai Bambhnia who operates the Akshar River Cruise.

At 134 level, monsoon will submerge many areas: Congress
Regarding this, Gujarat Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said that instead of worrying about 75 lakh urban citizens, the BJP rulers have worried about the convenience of private cruise operators. Despite the forecast of heavy rains by the Meteorological Department, only for the benefit of the private cruise operator, the leaders of the BJP-ruled corporation had officially e-mailed and demanded that the level be maintained at 134.5 feet. The level of the Sabarmati is usually around 128 feet when heavy rains are predicted in the monsoon. Several areas of Ahmedabad were inundated with 1 inch of rain on Friday. About 1 inch of rain fell in CG. Rain water was filled in areas like Panchkuwa, Kalupur, Shahpur, Relief Road, Gaikwad Haveli, Jamalpur, Vasana and other areas of the road as well as the central zone.

A condition where the cruise has to be stopped if the water level drops
It was further said that Akshar River Cruise has been started by Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation on PPP basis, but when this project was started, from the Chairman to the Director and all the officials of Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation, when it rains, the Sabarmati river is lowered from the river level. Did the cruise happen and does the river have a decent depth of feet in some places? Decided to go on a river cruise without doing any research? Then, if the water level drops sometimes, the river cruise has to be stopped.

When it rains, I check the river level: MLA
Ellisbridge Legislative Assembly MLA and City President Amit Shah said, “When it rains, I check the river level. It’s not raining now so I don’t know much. I don’t mind lowering the water level for river cruises. Because, I am not in the management for River Cruise.

Mail sent by Irrigation Department to AMC.

Letter from Congress.