Vadodara: Built in the 19th century by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad, Sayajibaug is not just one of Gujarat’s largest gardens but also among its oldest — a green legacy spread over 113 acres in the heart of Vadodara. For generations of Barodians, the historic garden has been a cherished space for walks, family outings and quiet escapes from the city’s bustle. Today, however, the 147-year-old landmark faces a slow, gnawing threat. The Vishwamitri river, which flows through the garden, is gradually eating away at its edges. A significant stretch of land near the aviary has been identified as vulnerable, with the riverbank soil steadily caving in. The erosion has already left visible scars. A public toilet located close to the river was shut down a couple of months ago after a large portion of soil behind it collapsed, exposing the structure’s foundation and raising safety concerns. Visitors now walk past barricades where lush greenery once stood uninterrupted. Experts warn that continued erosion could put more sections of the garden at risk if preventive measures are not taken. It all began in 2024 when severe floods in the river submerged a major area of Sayajibaug for days. The riverbank soil loosened in some areas, and cave-ins were reported after the civic body undertook a river de-silting project last year. “The problem of soil erosion aggravated during the floods in 2024 as many trees along the river got uprooted. Also, the civic body removed a lot of vegetation along the riverbank while doing the broadening work last year. This loosened the soil, and erosion started happening even in the Sayajibaug stretch of the river,” said Rohit Prajapati, environment activist. “At some stretches in Sayajibaug, the river is swallowing the land by erosion. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will have to take corrective measures soon. We suggested a gabion wall, which is an eco-friendly measure, to arrest the soil erosion,” Prajapati told TOI. “It was scary to see a part of the fence between the river and Sayajibaug caving in a few months ago. As a regular morning walker at this garden, I hope that the civic authorities act swiftly to save Sayajibaug,” said Pritesh Shah, a city businessman. Environment activist and former director of the regional community science centre, Dr Jeetendra Gavli, conducted a study on the Vishwamitri a few months ago along with Prajapati and other experts, and submitted a report to the VMC. The report says soil erosion due to uprooting of trees during floods, removal of vegetation during broadening work and improper netting of the soil is causing the cave-ins at Sayajibaug. Congress councillor Ami Ravat said she raised the issue of erosion at Sayajibaug several times. “It’s happening at several spots in Sayajibaug, including behind the deer enclosure and near the aviary. A large part of the garden is at risk, and the VMC is aware of it. The authorities have not acted for the last year. One more flood and a lot of land in the garden will be washed away,” Ravat said. Municipal commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu said, “On realizing the gravity of the situation, we cleared the building of a retaining wall at the spot in question in Sayajibaug under emergency provisions of the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation Act. The work was a bit delayed due to difficulties in making the approach road to the river, but now all decks are clear and work on the foundation has begun.”
