Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday announced that Indravati Development Authority (IDA) will be set up to revive Indravati river, lifeline of vast Bastar region.
He made the announcement at a meeting of the Bastar Development Authority held at the district headquarters here under his chairmanship.
Official sources informed that the CM had declared the formation of the IDA. Though, the sources were not able to reveal the possible structure of the authority.
Notable, this year the Indrawati River had dried up and for the first time there was no water in the world famous Chitrakot waterfall. This had raised concern of environmentalists as well.
Social activists and citizens of Bastar recently took out a foot-march under the banner of ‘Indravati Bachao Samiti’ to draw attention of the government in this regard.
The foot march taken out under the leadership of Padmashree Dharampal Saini gauged the situation of Indrawati by marching along the banks of river and the movement was culminated at Chitrakot after long journey of 14 days.
A similar step was taken by previous Raman Singh government in 2010 for Arpa river of Bilaspur region by forming Special Area Development Authority (SADA) for developing Arpa’s bank, but nothing substantial was being done to save the river in these nine years. BDA office bearers including its Chairman Lakheshwar Baghel, several caninet minister were also present in the meeing held.
