To revive the mythological Saraswati river and ensure flow of fresh water in it, Haryana Government on Wednesday approved 11 major projects including the restoration of various heritage sites along the course of river Saraswati.
The CM Manohar Lal, while presiding over a meeting of Governing Body of Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) said that it is the priority of State Government to ensure that fresh water flow in Saraswati river and to ensure this, various steps are being taken.
On this occasion, he also launched a mobile App developed by the Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board.
The information related to Saraswati river including scientific evidences of its existence and other relevant studies have been made available on this App.
He also approved the logo of the Saraswati Heritage Development Board, said an official spokesman.
During the meeting, the Board approved the proposal for appointment of consultant to assess the techno-feasibility for water way/heritage development/pilgrimage tourism activities from Pipli to Jyotisar and at Pehowa in district Kurukshetra.
It also approved grant-in-aid of Rs 50 lakh annually for carrying out research activities at the Centre of Excellence at Kurukshetra University.
The spokesman said that the projects which were approved for the rejuvenation and development of Saraswati river in the state included construction of Somb Saraswati barrage and Saraswati reservoir, construction of Adi Badri dam and other development works in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana at Adi Badri in district Yamunanagar, Saraswati river rejuvenation from Saraswati reservoir to its outfall in river Ghaggar, interlinking of Markanda river and Saraswati river through Kainthla supply channel, construction of waste water treatment plants for recycling of all waste water falling into Saraswati river, construction of RCC divide wall at Saraswati Tirath at Saraswati Nagar.
He said that the Board also approved construction of Saraswati Ghat at village Bhaini and Mangna in district Kurukshetra, construction of bridges on river Saraswati at village Ishargarh and Beer Pipli near Pratapgarh in district Kurukshetra for the convenience of people, development works for restoration of heritage places along the course of Saraswati river including heritage site and construction or development of temples and ghats and linking of Saraswati river heritage research institute with centre of excellence for research on Saraswati river established at Kurukshetra University.
During the meeting, it was informed that the construction of Somb Saraswati barrage and Saraswati reservoir would facilitate storage of 1000 hectare meters water in Saraswati reservoir which would fulfil the need of flow of water in Saraswati river to a large extent.
Similarly, after the completion of construction of Adi Badri dam and other development works in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana at adi Badri, the storage capacity of the proposed Saraswati reservoir at village Rampur Herian, Rampur Kambian and Chillaur in Haryana area would be increased from 100 hectare meters to 1475 hectare meters. This would enable Saraswati River to run with a discharge of 200 cusecs in monsoon season.
It was informed that the NOC for interstate clearance from Himachal Pradesh Government has already been obtained in this regard.
The CM was also apprized that with the completion of interlinking of Markanda river and Saraswati river through Kainthla supply channel, 3000 cusecs of flood water could be diverted from Markanda river to Saraswati river from Jhansa head of Markand river.
The work for the construction of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Kurukshetra and Saraswati Nagar is in progress and for the construction of STP at Bilaspur, the detailed project report (DPR) would be finalized within ten days by the Public Health Engineering Department.
It was also informed that the HSHDB has identified the heritage sites which include various temples, ghats and other structures along the course of Saraswati for their development and restoration.
Earlier, Deputy Chairman of HSHDB Prashant Bharadwaj presented water collected from 427 different rivers to CM in a bottle. Manohar Lal alongwith Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had performed Maha Jalabhishek at Adi Badri in district Yamunanagar recently.
