Uttarakhand CM Dhami directs officials to select two rivers in state for its revival

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], August 9 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the officials to select two rivers of the state and work towards its revival, while reviewing the Jalgam Department at the Jalgam Management Directorate, Indranagar.

During the meeting held on Thursday, Chief Minister Dhami directed officials to select one river from Garhwal Mandal and one river from Kumaon Mandal.

He also directed to build small ponds in areas sensitive to forest fires. He sought public cooperation for the same and said that along with the conservation of natural resources, special attention should be given by the Jalgam Department towards increasing the livelihood of the people.

He said “in the construction of various projects, it should also be assessed whether it is having any effect on the water sources, work should also be done towards the revival of water sources affected by the construction of schemes. Vibrant Village should also be given priority under the schemes run by Jalgam.”

He directed officials to complete externally aided projects within the stipulated period and to give top priority to the schemes assisted by the Central Government. He also directed to expedite the schemes with a 90 per cent central share and a 10 per cent state share.

He also directed the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority to prepare short and long-term treatment plans for the revival of natural water sources and rain-fed rivers and evaluate and monitor them.

CM Dhami also directed that work should be done keeping in mind sustainable water resource management, sustainable land and ecosystem management, climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation for the planning and implementation of watershed development projects. Effective steps should be taken in collaboration with the Forest Department to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

The chief minister also instructed that along with promoting traditional products, work will be done to increase the income of farmers through horticulture and agro-forestry activities in cultivable barren lands. Participation of women should be increased for women’s empowerment in watershed schemes.

It was informed in the meeting that the ‘Uttarakhand Climate Friendly Rain fed Agriculture Project’ funded by the World Bank has been approved by the Watershed Department to benefit mountain agriculture in selected micro watershed areas in Uttarakhand and to reduce greenhouse gas.

This scheme of Rs 1148 crore will operate from 2024 to 2030. Under this project, work will be done to reduce water drainage and soil erosion through spring shed management, reduce greenhouse gas in the agricultural sector, and increase the income of farmers through carbon fencing by improving the amount of carbon through tree plantation on rain-fed and fallow land, increase the productivity of rain-fed and irrigated crops, establish agricultural clusters for high-value crop production and establish Agri-Business Growth Center.

Notably, the work is going under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Watershed Development Component 2.0 in three districts of the state, Pauri, Almora and Pithoragarh.