The desilting of the Vishwamitri river in Vadodara, likely to start later this month, might temporarily displace crocodiles from their natural habitat, officials said on Wednesday.The 24-km stretch of the river which passes through the city is home to nearly 300 crocodiles.A proposal of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) to temporarily shift crocodiles has been forwarded to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), for final approval, a Forest Department official said."A high-level committee, appointed by the Gujarat government in September following floods in Vadodara city, has recommended increasing the carrying capacity of the river through desilting before monsoon," said VMC's desilting project executive engineer Lakshank Nedhariya.He said the civic body has sought the Forest Department's permission to relocate crocodiles if needed.Several localities in Vadodara were inundated last August after the flood waters of the Vishwamitri river gushed into the city, prompting the evacuation of 3,000 people."The five-member committee trying to understand causes behind the Vadodara flood recommended desilting the river to increase its carrying capacity, which will include deepening and widening," said Nedhariya.
