SUBMERGED FORT EMERGES FROM EXPOSED DEPTH OF UKAI RESERVOIR 

 

A fort-like structure is hidden under the waters in the catchment area near Uchchal and it visible whenever the water level of Ukai reservoir falls to 285 feet (during the Indian Summer months). This structure reportedly was built by the royal Gaekwad dynasty (from the erstwhile princely state of Baroda) between 1729 and 1766 mainly to store weapons and for water conservation purpose. It is located 3km away from Jamli village near Uchchal, which may have been used as a garrison and police ‘thana’ (outpost) during the rule of Gaekwads and had got submerged 80 feet when the Ukai dam was built in 1972.

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The fort, which had a firing block and three standing cannons, has a circumference of 200 m and is about 70-feet high. This structure is a fort-like one built atop Songadh hill. (The Songadh fort was built by Gaekwads rulers at a height of 112 m).

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It also has a water conservation structure called vav (stepwell). Two cannons and a tomb are now visible, but the structure's exact dimensions are not known. Before this area got submerged under water, it was an agriculture spot.

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WHY WAS HARNESSING THE TAPI NECESSARY? 

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The dam was constructed to overcome the  annual flood situations in downstream Surat districts which faced a big loss during monsoon- owing to absence of a trough protection against the overflowing of river Tapti.  The manual workforce population of the area was considering permanent migration to safer places.  To avoid this exodus of business-oriented population and also to secure the area from future deluge, constructing a Dam was imperative and inevitable.  After a demographic survey, the area 94 km from Surat  (Ukai- Songadh) was earmarked. 

 

The Geographical area also found fit for construction of dam and generation of hydroelectricity. After a thorough study of the area, a committee was setup under the chairman ship of the then Chief Minister Mr Balwant Rai Mehta  and the cornerstone was laid in 1964. If there are no floods to ravage the city today, it is due to excellent flood control at Ukai dam to manage flood water levels at the optimum figure.