Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated the campaign aimed at the revival of the Rispana river in Dehradun. He said that the State Government has taken up the commitment of reviving the Rispana river in Dehradun and the Kosi river in Almora. The involvement of the common people is of vital importance in making the river rejuvenation campaign successful, he stressed. Recipient of Magsaysay Award,Rajendra Singh popularly known as Water Man and senior officials were also among those present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had turned cleanliness into a campaign. The State Government too has made a commitment to revive the rivers in the State. A junior eco task force was formed with the assistance of Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre (USERC) director professor Durgesh Pant and colonel RHS Rana of the eco task force. Students and youth have been included in this junior task force. The Chief Minister said that the eight sources of Rishiparna (Rispana) river have been identified and included in the campaign. Rawat went on to State that the population of Dehradun had doubled whereas the discharge of water had been halved. He said, “Scientists across the world are worried about water. They fear that the next world war will be fought over water. Water man Rajendra Singh has worked to revive 11 rivers for which no help was taken from the Government. The science of the rural residents has been linked to such efforts. In the same way, the involvement of all of us is needed in the effort here. Every one should feel that the revival of the Rishiparna river is their own dream, only then will the revival of the river be possible,” said the Chief Minister.
Expressing his views on the occasion, Rajendra Singh congratulated the State Government and the people, stating that the Chief Minister had administered a pledge to the establishment, society and religious fraternity together. He said, “The revival of rivers will have to be undertaken with culture, nature, love and respect. We will have to make a commitment that the revival of the rivers of Uttarakhand will be done by the people of the State together.”
Chidanand Muni of Parmarth Niketan said that the Parmarth Niketan will provide the tree saplings to facilitate the tree plantation necessary for revival of the river. He also announced that the Parmarth Niketan will provide `1 crore for the campaign aimed at the revival of rivers in the State. Speaking on the occasion, colonel RHS Rana assured that the eco task force will provide full support in achieving the revival of the rivers.
Chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh opined that saving the rivers is not some Government scheme but a scheme of the public. On the directions of the Chief Minister two rivers have been chosen for the revival initially, he added.
According to Government sources, the guidance of experts from the Forest Research Institute, National Hydrology Institute, Eco Task Force and other institutions will be taken to restore the Rishiparna and Kosi rivers to their original form.