North India’s first river rejuvenation project ‘Devika’ is in the final stages and it will be soon dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Built on the lines of ‘Namami Ganga’, the project was launched by the Prime Minister in February 2019. On Sunday, Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh carried out an on-site review and finishing touches on the river Devika rejuvenation project.There had been a long pending demand for renovation, rejuvenation, and beautification, but it was only after 2014 that this first-of-its-kind river rejuvenation project was undertaken in North India on the lines of Namami Ganga, Singh stated.
The religious significance and key features Devika project
Devika river is considered the sister of the sacred river Ganga, and it has a great religious significance. Therefore, the Liquid Waste Management (LWM) project has been undertaken separately to protect the sanctity of the holy river in Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir.
The LWM project with the network of pipes and manholes connecting all the households under the project is being constructed by J&K’s Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) to protect its sanctity.Built at a cost of over Rs 190 crore, the sharing of fund allocation is in the ratio of 90:10 by the centre and UT respectively.
Besides a Liquid Waste Management Project, a Solid Waste Management (SWM) project will also be constructed under Devika Rejuvenation Project which is vital in many aspects protecting the sanctity of river, the Union Minister of State added.Notably, the project also includes the construction of three sewage treatment plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD, and 1.6 MLD capacity, a sewerage network of 129.27 km, development of two cremation ghats, protection fencing and landscaping, small hydropower plants and three solar power plants.After the completion of the project, the rivers will see reduction in pollution and improvement in water quality.