Bioengineering work to stabilize river banks begins
Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) started extensive work using bioengineering to stabilise the banks of the Vishwamitri following the extensive dredging done there for its resectioning.
Geotextile, coir and vetiver grass are being used to stabilize the banks.
The effort began on an experimental basis in April, after which work was awarded to a contractor for an area of 1.34 lakh square metres last month for the first phase of the process of stabilizing the bank. If the results are satisfactory, more work will be taken up. For the first phase, VMC will spend Rs 4.9 crore.
The VMC standing committee chairman, Sheetal Mistry, said that the geotextile is fixed over the layer of coir, and vetiver grass is planted through the geotextile and the coir.
The process ensures moisture is retained in the soil and helps the growth of the grass. Water is being sprinkled on the geotextile to keep it moist. Mistry said that so far, work was taken up on a 2.3km stretch of the river.
Mayor Pinky Soni, municipal commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu, Mistry, and other officials visited the site where work was being carried out. They checked the progress of work on the stabilization process. Mistry said 92% of the dredging work has been completed.
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