North India's River Revitalization Project 'Devika' In Its Final Stages

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh inspected North India's first river revitalization project "Devika", on 31 December 2023. The project is in its final stages and will soon be dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Devika River Rejuvenation Project:

• The Government of India launched this project in February 2019 on the lines of 'Namami Gange'.
• This project has been included in the National River Conservation Project (NRCP) of the Government of India.

Objective :

• The project's main objective is to reduce river pollution and improve water quality.

Specialty:

• This project is the first of its kind river project in North India.
• The cost of the Devika River Rejuvenation Project is Rs 190 crore.
• The Center and UT have allocated funds in the ratio of 90:10.
• Under this project, development, renovation, rejuvenation and beautification of bathing ghats on Devika River and uninterrupted power supply, making the natural water bank accessible, developing cremation ground etc., are being done.
• This is a project of Jammu and Kashmir. This will benefit Jammu and Kashmir in agriculture and horticulture crops etc.

Devika River :

• The Devika River originates from the hill Sudh (Purified) Mahadev Temple in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir and joins the Ravi River in Pakistan.
• This river is known as the sister of the river Ganga.

Namami Gange Program:

• It was approved as a 'Flagship Programme' by the Central Govt. in June 2014.
• It was launched to fulfil the twin objectives of effectively reducing pollution and conserving and rejuvenating the national river Ganga.
• It is being operated under the Ministry of Water Resources, Department of River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
• Brand Ambassador of Namami Gange Program – Iconic Indian comic character, Chacha Chaudhary