Rajya Sabha member Parimal Nathwani raised the issue related to rejuvenation and beautification of Ranchi’s life line Harmu River in parliament on Friday. He expressed that restoring the past glory of the river was very important for the city residents.
Raising the special mention Nathwani said that the river Harmu crossing through the city of Ranchi had become a dumping ground and left neglected. He said that the haphazard encroachment along the river has done irreparable damage to the river and the city. He mentioned that the amount of Rs15 crore earmarked for rejuvenation of the river was not sufficient and its complete rejuvenation and beautification was possible only with full intervention and support of the central government.
Santosh Gangwar, Union Minister of State for Water Resources informed in response, with the reference from and environment and forest ministry that Harmu was not included as one of 150 polluted rivers of the country as identified by the Central Pollution Control Board. The Minister also informed that the central government did not receive any proposal from the state government to prevent pollution in Harmu.
The minister also said that the amount of Rs15 crore from 13th Finance commission is for 2 km patch of Harmu river which was not sufficient for complete rejuvenation of the river. Nathwani has also written a letter to Chief Secretary of the Government of Jharkhand in which he has requested to state government to make a beginning. He also quoted examples of the Sabarmati River Front project in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and beautification of several water bodies in the cities of Gujarat and elsewhere in the country in his letter.
Nathwani has ensured the government of Jharkhand that he would extend his support in the direction of rejuvenating and beautifying the river. He also mentioned that during renovation of the dilapidated crematorium on the bank of Harmu River he had cleansed and dredged a portion of the river and planted grown up trees on both the shores of the river.