The villagers had blamed the siltation in four creeks, which carried the rain water into the sea in natural course, on industrial giants that have come up in the area over the last two decades. When the industrial units were set up, geographical disturbances ensured that low lying areas were created and natural outlets blocked due to filling, both contributed to logging of water.

After a relentless struggle the villagers were able to get the administration join hands with the industrial units to carry out dredging and to lay a drainage line. For long the industries were not ready to accept the blame, but after a series of meetings each one of them agreed to pool money to complete the Rs 1.5 crore project.

An agreement was arrived at between the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, the Surat Municipal Corporation with Reliance, Essar, NTPC, KRIBHCO, GAIL, GGCL, L and T and ONGC, and a drainage committee with representatives from villagers and industries set up.

The problem was hanging fire for nearly 15 years. A meeting was held last month with representatives of industries and administration with Union Textile Minister Kashiram Rana, where a commitment to speed up work on the project was taken. Except for GGCL, all units had made part-payment of their share and the gas company, after disputing the project, agreed to own up its share.

Rana formally marked the starting of dredging work at a function held on Sunday in Ichhapore.

Olpad MLA Dhansukh Patel, speaking at the function, said like dredging of creeks, the other bare necessity was construction of a road between Hazira and Olpad via Pinjrat. The estimated expenditure for the 26-km stretch was about Rs 26 crore. However, it was possible to construct in half the amount. He said the road would also benefit industries.

Vice-president of the Surat district panchayat Raman Jani suggested to the drainage committee to take periodic funds from industries as the problem of dredging would recur in the next three-four years. That will save the committee the trouble to beg for funds when they are needed most, he observed. District Collector R M Shah also spoke on the occasion.