The Chhattisgarh Government has planned to launch a major drive to conserve and protect nearly 164-km-long Kharun river which is known as the lifeline of five districts of Raipur division.
Under this special initiative, the Government will undertake intensive plantation, construction of protection wall and embankments on the banks of Kharun river from its source to confluence point. Moreover, a special campaign would be launched to clean the river at every one kilometre. Total expenditure on this entire campaign is estimated to be of in excess of
Rs200 crore. It has been decided that the action plan would be implemented after it is approved by the Gram Sabhas. Action plans for Durg, Balod and Bemetara district are ready and procedure to get approval from Gram Sabha is underway. Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar is regularly monitoring the preparation of action plans for conservation of Kharun River in each of the districts.
Collectors and department officials of these districts have been instructed to initiate the construction and plantation work at the earliest under converge and convergence category combining MNREGA and other departmental schemes concerned. Chandrakar said that the action plan will revive Kharun River. It is noteworthy that the source of river Kharun is in village Badbhoom of Balod district. Nearly 164-km-long Kharun River flows through Durg, Bemetara, Dhamtari and Raipur districts till its confluence in Sheonath river at famous pilgrimage spot Somnath of village lakhna near Dharsiwa.
Kharun is one of the most ancient and historical rivers of Chhattisgarh. On its riverbank near capital city Raipur, Archeology Department has excavated the remains of nearly 2500-year-old civilization in village Tarighat of Durg district. The archeological remains unearthed consist of various evidences from different historical periods. Coins, utensils, other evidences related to Shung Dynasty of 3rd century B.C., Kushan dynasty, Saatvaahan dynasty, Sharabhpuriya (Gupta) dynasty, Maurya dynasty and Kalchuri dynasty have been found at the aforementioned archeological site.
Officials of Panchayat and Rural Development Department informed that both the riverbanks of Kharun cover 9 Janpad Panchayats and 120 villages of five districts including Balod. This includes 30 villages of Balod, 31 villages of Durg, 15 villages of Bemetara, 15 villages of Dhamtari and 29 villages of Raipur district. Other than the aforementioned villages, some of the urban areas including Raipur and Kumhari are also situated on the banks of River Kharun. In such urban areas, the action plan for conservation of Kharun will be implemented in association with urban bodies and water resource department. Kharun River is the main source of drinking water for capital city Raipur. Department officials informed that heavy rains during monsoon often results in floods in Kharun.
This situation creates the problem if soil erosion on the banks of the river. Moreover, flow of the river is obstructed due to the accumulation of waste material that comes flowing with the flood. The frequently occurring floods damages the standing crops and immovable assets of the villagers, creating much difficulties for the villagers. Major part state’s fund also goes into the distribution of compensation to flood-victims. Hence, the chief aim of this campaign is to ensure security of people living on the riverbanks.
Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Department Vivek Dhand has issued circular to District Collectors of Raipur, Dhamtari, Durg and Balod districts, CEOs of district panchayat Durg, Dhamtari and Raipur, and District Rural Development Agencies of Balod and Bemetara in the context, and has instructed them to ensure immediate action in the direction.
Dhand has instructed the officials concerned to chalk out detailed action plans along with the Executive Engineer of water resource department, and to take approval from Gram Sabhas for the construction works falling under MNREGA and convergence category.
He has instructed that only those works should be proposed in the action plan, which can be done as per the guidelines of MNREGA or through convergence of other departmental schemes. Chief Engineer has been instructed to issue necessary instructions in the context to all the Executive Engineers of his work area. Commissioner of Raipur Revenue Division Dr Bl Tiwari has been appointed as nodal officer for this special Kharun conservation campaign.
Officials informed that as per the proposal based on the initial survey of water resource department, conservation-related works would be done at every one kilometre in each of the 120 villages on the riverbanks of Kharun. Besides, 1-km-long roads would be constructed in each of villages and cleaning of riverbed would be done at every one kilometer distance. Plants of nearly 5000 different species will be planted on the riverbanks in each of the villages. Administrative approval of Rs 85.71 lakh has been given for river conservation related works in 29 villages of Jila Panchayat Raipur, situated near Kharun River.
This amount would be spent on construction of embankments, check dams etc for flood control.
