School: Singhania Public School
    Fort Songadh, Gujarat, India

60 students, ages 12-14 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 14, 2019. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2017,18

Classes and Teachers: Mr. M. Tauseef,Mrs. Neelam Reddy, Ms. Manasvee Pandey, / Classes IX, VIII, VII and VI

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.spsfortsongadh.com/

1. Description of Our Community

Fort Songadh is 13km form the epic Ukai Dam and is a town located at the foot of a solitary hill/fort (thus the name Fort Songadh). The surroundings comprise of around 30 stone quarries, a State-run thermal power plant, JK Paper Ltd., owing to which the town’s economy, status and revenue has increased a great deal. Songadh's surrounding areas are covered with semi-dense forest. The only hill-station of Gujarat – Saputara, is 110 km from here. The main town of Fort Songadh is located on an interstate Highway with Maharashtra to its east and the rest of Gujarat to its west. Smart City Surat (85 km from Songadh) and is a megapolis and home to the world-famous Polished-Diamonds and Textile industries. Surat has grown faster than other cities of Gujarat and consequently Tapi district (named after legendary River Tapi) was created from the former District of Surat.Vyara was selected as the capital of the Tapi district our town Fort Songadh is 19 km from Vyara.

2. Summary of Our Project

Our team has chosen to explore the most famous landmark of the District and prominent one in the State - The Ukai Dam. Built across the River Tapi, this also happens to be the largest reservoir in Gujarat. The role of the dam as a source irrigation and power-generation, its contribution to sustaining forest-cover and general socio-economic development is what forms the mainstay of our data. This dam is also referred to as Vallabh Sagar Dam. It was constructed in the year 1972 and is meant for power generation, irrigation and flood control. The dam has a catchment area that spans over 62,255 sq. km. (52,000 hectares) and is somewhere close to the capacity of the Bhakra Nangal Dam, in Punjab. Situated about 94 km from Surat, Ukai Dam has a storage capacity that is about 46% of the total capacity of the other water dams of Gujarat collectively. It can safely be said that the other dams of Gujarat have as little as 0.1% of the average storage capacity in comparison. Ukai Dam is thought to be the mega project in Gujarat.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:21-50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:more than 6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:4-6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

Dams are unquestionably a critical national resource that must be protected. Terrorism/Sabotage poses a threat to any country’s water infrastructure which is vulnerable to physical destruction, biological or chemical contamination, and cyber-attacks. This threat directly influences government and security, economy and life. The Vallabh Sagar/Ukai Dam and almost all dams are classified as ‘high-hazard potential targets’, meaning that their failure from any means could result in loss of life, significant property damage, lifeline disruption, and environmental damage. The prevailing ‘high-alerts’ in National Security and prohibition of using media did impact the presentation a bit yet Team-Cyber has endeavored to make the most of all resources available and put up a good show.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

A Surat-tour can never be complete be complete without the excursion to the Ukai Dam (Vallabh Sagar). One can visit the Ukai dam and witness the majestic splendor of water gushing at full force from the flood-gates in the peak of monsoon. Built across the Tapti (Tapi) River, it is said to hold 46% of the total storage capacity of all the dams in Gujarat. Apart from the dam- Saputara, an increasingly-popular hill-station and the famous Giri waterfalls are worth a visit, as well. The surroundings of the Ukai reservoir are a feast to the senses and the sunsets sure give viewers some breathtaking moments and pictures that are much more than just Instagram-worthy!

6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

The best part of Cyber Fair’s investigative nature is the involvement of extensive research that promotes thought-processes and lateral thinking at all levels. Right from first-timers in the Cyber Fair experience to ‘seasoned’ participants (for the second or third time) everyone got to know the BIG PICTURE of learning and its outcomes. Balancing between term exams, preparations for events in the school fixture, restraint in entry and photography of the Dam (and its main units) meant that the entire Team Cyber had to devise ways of gathering inputs relevant to the theme and learn hands-on about various concepts of Geography, Hydro-electricity, Flood –Control, Fisheries and Environment and other such. The enterprise also taught us importance of co-ordination, time-management, team-work and focus.

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?

Laptops, Personal Computers, Still cameras, Video cameras, Cellphones with Hi-fidelity recording facilities, printers, Internet resources. We had access to all of the tools mentioned above and our team was quite comfortable in handling equipment. Our most valuable tools were cell phone and camera as they were handy and easy to use. Online website developing tool (www.wix.com) helped us a lot. This website saved our time and helped us to add many wonderful features with out writing codes for the same.

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.

The completion of any project involves whole-hearted participation of every single member of a Team. Our Cyber Team too, left no stone unturned to gather inputs/ data. Random and specific discussions with friends, media groups, neighbors and elders revealed many a valuable resources who contributed immensely to the authentication of the cause. Even the administrative and logistical support team of the school took special efforts to steer the project towards completion.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

The nature of the project evoked many moments of pride and nostalgia as contributors revealed through their interviews and statements. Further, the realization of the Ukai Dam’s role in millions of lives spanning three States -was overwhelming! In its own way, the Dam is effectively harnessing and steering the tides for progress, sustaining the optimum weather-and-water balance, providing a source of livelihood through the bounty of its produce and generating 300 MW of electricity. The outcomes of this learning and probe have filled our community with renewed pride and awe.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

What began as a normal perception of any Large –Scale Government enterprise blossomed into a colossal saga of discovery with many unknown facts and figures coming to light. Tidbits of information and full-fledged interviews gave us the project its final sheen and shape. The true potential of the Dam remains to be explored, as per authorities; our community meanwhile, revels in the fact that in our very backyard lies a ‘multipurpose’ force to reckon with.