National River Conservation Plan : Devika River National Project
Source : PIB
GS III : Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc
GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Why in News ?
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, Devika River National Project in J&K is a symbol of harmony and unity. Visits the site of the Devika Project for on-the-spot assessment.
Key Facts
- It was formally launched by PM during his visit to Jammu in early 2019.
- Conducted a thorough review of the project through a virtual meeting.
- Centrally funded Rs.190 crore National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) Devika project
- Bathing ghats (places) on the banks of the Devika River will be developed
- Encroachments will be removed
- Natural water bodies will be restored
- Catchment areas will be developed along with cremation ground.
Devika River National Project
- The work on the project was started in March 2019 under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
- The detailed project report (DPR) amounting to Rs 189.22 crore has been formulated for the Devika rejuvenation project.
- Project includes the construction of three sewage treatment plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD and 1.6 MLD capacity,
- Other Project
- Sewerage network of 129.27 km
- Development of two cremation ghats
- Protection fencing and landscaping
- Small hydropower plants and three solar power plants.
- On completion of the project The rivers will see reduction in pollution and improvement in water quality.
- It also aims to removal of encroachments, sewerage treatment, restoration of natural water bodies and development of catchment area.
Devika Bridge
- Last year Ministry also inaugurated the important Devika Bridge in Udhampur
- Apart from taking care of traffic congestion, the Devika Bridge was also meant to help smooth passage of Army convoys and vehicles.
National River Conservation Plan
- The objective of NRCP is to improve the water quality of the rivers, which are the major water sources in the country, through the implementation of pollution abatement works.
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay - By 1995 major rivers were subsequently approved under NRCP for the fight against pollution.
- After launching of NRCP in 1995, it was decided to merge GAP II with NRCP.
- India fight against polluted rivers, the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) has covered 34 rivers in 77 towns across 16 states.
- Need for the plan
- Comes in the backdrop of a significant number of Indian river waters being unfit for drinking
- It is necessary for the government working on measures to combat water pollution.
- NRCP has also helped set up sewage treatment capacity of 2522.03 million litre per day (mld).
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) September 2018 report 351 polluted river stretches have been identified on 323 rivers in the country.
- Under Namami Gange programme a total of 335 projects have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.29,578 crore so far
- In which 142 projects have been completed and made operational.
- Out of 335 projects, 156 projects are in the sewerage sector for creation of total sewage treatment capacity and sewerage network of 5066 kms.
What are the major focus of National River Conservation Plan ?
- Diversion of raw sewage to flowing into the river for sewage treatment.
- River Front Development works such as improvement of bathing ghats etc.
- Electric Crematoria and Improved Wood Crematoria.
- Prevention of Open defecation on river banks.
- Development of river bed by providing Bathing ghats etc.
Devika River
- The river holds religious significance as it is revered by Hindus as the sister of river Ganga.
- Also known as Devika Nagari
- 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.
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