PM Modi set to unveil North India’s first river rejuvenation project ‘Devika’

PM Modi set to unveil North India’s first river rejuvenation project ‘Devika’

Subject :Geography

Section: Indian Physical Geography

Context:

• North India’s first river rejuvenation project ‘Devika’ is in the final stages.

About ‘Devika’ project:

• Built on the lines of ‘Namami Ganga’, the project was launched by the Prime Minister in February 2019.
• Devika River, considered the sister of the sacred river Ganga, is undergoing a significant initiative called the Devika Rejuvenation Project.
  • Devika River originates from the hilly Suddha Mahadev temple in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir and flows down towards western Punjab (now in Pakistan) where it merges with the Ravi River.
• The project aims to maintain the river’s sanctity through Liquid Waste Management (LWM) and Solid Waste Management (SWM) systems in Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir.
• Managed by the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED), the LWM project includes a network of pipes and manholes connecting households.
• It’s a substantial investment, totalling over Rs 190 crore, with funding split 90:10 between the central government and the Union Territory (UT).
• Alongside the LWM, the SWM project is critical for safeguarding the river’s sanctity.
• The comprehensive plan involves constructing sewage treatment plants of various capacities (8 MLD, 4 MLD, and 1.6 MLD), a 129.27 km sewerage network, development of cremation ghats, protection measures like fencing and landscaping, small hydropower plants, and three solar power facilities.
• The completion of these projects is anticipated to significantly reduce pollution and enhance the overall water quality of the rivers involved.

Source: Financial Express