Gujarat Hardlook: Surat’s Creeks- A Flood of Challenges

On two days earlier this month, Surat saw its worst flood of the season so far – caused by swelling of two creeks. Officials attribute this to ‘haphazard’ development along the creek banks after the 2006 delimitation, when the city grew from 112 square metres to 461 sq m. KAMAL SAIYED reportsAMIR ANSARI, 52, came to Surat several years ago with many dreams – like the thousands of other migrants from Bihar. Hailing from Gopalgunj district, Ansari and his wife Hamida began a new life in a new city. After doing petty jobs for a couple of months, he launched a property brokership. The couple had three children. On July 7, their sons, Harun, 23, and Faruk, 22, who were returning after work in a Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) factory at Sachin, did not reach home. Ansari last