Surat: On the fifth day of its intensified drive to remove encroachments and restore natural water flow in the city’s creeks, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) initiated the demolition of constructed buildings obstructing water channels. In a major action on Friday, a 6,110-sq ft property in Jawahar Nagar Society, Karanj was razed — including a 2,040-sq ft RCC slab. This marked the first such demolition of a concrete structure along creek banks in the city.The all-day operation was carried out with coordination among multiple departments. Engineers from different SMC departments, electrical staff, and the encroachment removal team were present. Security was ensured with the deployment of 140 police personnel and 16 officers. Teams from the power distribution company and the city’s gas supplier were also on-site to manage utilities during demolition.The structure was located directly on the creek bank, with water flowing right up to the building’s walls, severely impeding drainage.The demolition is part of SMC’s broader plan to prevent urban flooding and improve water management by clearing encroachments from creek zones. Similar operations were conducted across multiple areas including Athwa, Udhna, and Varachha.In Athwa, rivulet widening work was taken up near Siddhi Apartment and creek widening continued near Bhimrad-Bamroli Bridge. Creek realignment efforts were also underway near Sachin-Magdalla Bridge. In Udhna Zone A, Bhewad creek was widened, while in Varachha Zone A, action was taken near the Saniya culvert.Heavy machinery was deployed for these operations, highlighting the scale and urgency of the initiative. The recent spell of heavy rainfall had led to four days of flooding across Surat, damaging thousands of homes and disrupting textile and diamond industry operations.