Ujjain : Government authorities have chalked out a detailed plan to rejuvenate the dead Kshipra and if gone straight, it will bring back the parched river to its pristine glory. The plan has been worked out like a management issue and has short term and long term goals with their own structures help getting the holy river to its original state. Holy Kshipra which hosts world’s biggest religious congregation on its banks every 12 years has been a victim of human abuse and apathy, leading to its demise.
The repeated cries have come to fruit and now plans are underway to rejuvenate the 195 KM long river, having catchment area of 6123 Sq KM. The authorities are planning to indulge both Ujjain and Indore divisions in Kshipra conservation scheme. In the ambitious plan, they are planning to initiate lakhs of residents from village panchayats, municipal councils and corporations to lend their hands in the project. Also, they are planning to do it without any additional funds from the governments. The officials claimed, as soon as the Khan river diversion completes, the industrial effluents mixing in the river will be minimised. Around 948 Panchayats, 136 Urban Civic bodies totalling to above 14 lakh people will participate in the cause, from three districts viz Dewas, Indore and Ujjain.
Talking to Free Press, Yogendra Giri, Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, who is developing the plan said, “Our basic effort is to change the mindset of every person be it a villager or urban dweller. We need to see the river as our heritage.” It will take time and all around efforts to restore the river. He said till now Panchayats have been out of the focus from revolutionary works and villages are that manpower which mainly remains unused. Now with help of Panchayats dwelling on river banks, the work would be done. Giri said community mobilisation will be made in the villages. Each village is already sanctioned funds for various works; they only need motivation to save the river. Giri said people will get employment through MNREG Scheme and farmers will get extra benefit using bio-farming.
Divisional Commissioner Ravindra Pastor, who is the brain behind the new river conservation plans, says, “The River is victim of long term abuse by none other than us, it will take time to bring it back and that will be done step by step with our plans. He said basic steps include sensitizing the masses about river, stopping the soil run-off, promote bio-farming and increasing the greenery on the river corridor.” He said to achieve this big task NGOs, residents, government agencies and religious organisations will work in tandem. Dr Pastor said the forest department has already started plantation on the river stretch from Lalpul to Sunhari Ghat and soon the same will be made along the whole river stretch in city from Triveni to KD Palace. According to him, the project is being named as “Clean Kshipra, Green Kshipra and Organic Valley Kshipra” by fixing three major motives of clean village, green village and organic village.
