Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Flood Control & Biodiversity Conservation: A Balancing Act on Vishwamitri River
When a river in India floods, it can cause big problems.
To stop this, people decided to clean up the river (dredging).
But the river is also home to many animals, like crocodiles, turtles, and birds, who were laying eggs around the same time.
So, a special team carefully found over 400 eggs before the big machines started digging.
They moved the eggs to a safe place, like a zoo, to keep them warm and protected.
Some eggs didn't make it, but many baby crocodiles, turtles, and birds eventually hatched.
These baby animals were then carefully returned to the river, showing that people can help with important projects while also protecting nature.
Flood mitigation efforts on the Vishwamitri River in Vadodara involved dredging and egg rescue operations.
Over 400 eggs of crocodiles, turtles, and birds were rescued and relocated to a zoo for incubation.
16 crocodile hatchlings, 26 turtles, and 20 red-wattled lapwing chicks successfully hatched and were released back into the river.
The project demonstrated that development and ecological sensitivity can coexist with careful planning.
The Vishwamitri River is home to approximately 440 crocodiles and is a biodiversity hotspot.
- Who
- Dr. Ranjitsinh Devkar, a team of volunteers, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Narmada Water Resources and Water Supply Department, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation, and the forest department.
- What
- Over 400 eggs of crocodiles, turtles, and birds were rescued and relocated as part of flood control efforts along the Vishwamitri River. The rescued eggs were incubated, and the resulting hatchlings and chicks were later released back into the river.
- When
- Between March 26 and late July of this year, with flood control work overlapping the breeding season.
- Where
- Vishwamitri River in Vadodara.
- Why
- To prevent future floods through dredging while simultaneously preserving the river's biodiversity during the construction period.
Development Focus
Biodiversity Protection Focus
Balancing Act
Development Focus
The primary goal was to conduct massive dredging to prevent future floods, a critical infrastructure development.
Biodiversity Protection Focus
A parallel effort was made to preserve the river’s rich and fragile biodiversity, requiring careful integration with engineering work.
Challenges
Development Focus
Dredging posed a direct risk to nests and eggs laid on riverbanks.
Biodiversity Protection Focus
Handling reptile eggs required extreme care to maintain orientation and incubation conditions to ensure embryo survival and proper gender determination.
Outcome
Development Focus
The flood mitigation project progressed as planned.
Biodiversity Protection Focus
A significant number of eggs were successfully rescued, incubated, and the resulting hatchlings and chicks were released back into the river.
- Project Name
- Vishwamitri Flood Mitigation Project
- Location
- Vishwamitri River, Vadodara
- Project Cost
- Rs 1,200 crore
- Eggs Rescued (Total)
- 410
- Crocodile Eggs
- 88
- Turtle Eggs
- 284
- Bird Eggs
- 38
- Successful Hatchlings/Chicks
- 16 crocodile hatchlings, 26 turtles, 20 red-wattled lapwing chicks
- River Crocodile Population
- Approx. 440