DEVIKA PROJECT OF UDHAMPUR

DEVIKA PROJECT OF UDHAMPUR

Subject : Economy

Context : Recently, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions has said that Devika Project is for all and therefore suggestions are welcome from every Party.

Concept :

About Devika Project

• It is North India’s first- of- its- kind project located in Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir.
• It is Rs.190 Crore project under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) which started in March 2019.

The activities involved under the project are:

• Bathing “ghats” (places) on the banks of the Devika River will be developed;
• Encroachments will be removed; and
• Natural water bodies will be restored and catchment areas will be developed along with cremation ground.
• The project includes the construction of three sewage treatment plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD and 1.6 MLD capacities.

About Devika River

• It holds great religious significance as it is revered by Hindus as the sister of river Ganga.
• In the Nilmat Puran that was written in the 7th century by Nela Muni, it is mentioned that the Devika River is a manifestation of the mother Goddess Parwati herself to benefit the people of Mader Desha.
• It originates from the hilly Suddha Mahadev temple in Udhampur district and flows down towards western Punjab (now in Pakistan) where it merges with the Ravi River.