Himachal to have a ‘state river’

The state has five prominent rivers — Sutlej,Beas,Ravi,Chenab and Yamuna — and all of them are witnessing heavy construction activity around them due to hydro power projects. Tunnels are being built to divert the original route of the rivers. The largest number of such projects — nearly 20 — are coming up on the Sutlej.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal made the announcement on Thursday after Rajender Singh,noted environmentalist and founder of Tarun Bharat Sangh,suggested the government to declare one river as state river.

Singh was speaking during a discussion held at the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat,where the chief minister,chairman of the recently constituted Water Management Board Praveen Sharma,senior officers and scientists were present.

“Himachal has five big rivers,but many villagers still go without water. The government and the society need to sit down and frame a pro-nature river policy aimed at disciplined use of the available water,” said Singh.

Later,during the first meeting of the Water Management Board,Dhumal asked the officials to start extensive work on revival of traditional water bodies with community participation.

Addressing the judges and lawyers of the Himachal Pradesh High Court at a separate function held in the court complex as part of the court’s Ruby Jubilee celebrations,Rajendra Singh said: “Discipline in using water can be enforced transparently,when people will know how much water is available with them and for how long. History has it that transparency was the mantra behind water management in arid Jaisalmer,when it used to be a major trade route linking Pakistan and Afghanistan. Governments need to generate water availability database at the community level.”

“Judiciary can play a crucial role in solving the conflicts between traditional wisdom and needs of the civilisation in the present context for better management of water resources,” he observed.