Environment ministry releases project reports on the rejuvenation and rehabilitation of 13 rivers in India

Union minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, and Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajender Singh Shekhawat, along with Minister of State, MoEFCC, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, jointly released the reports. 

The thirteen rivers for which the DPRs are released are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Luni, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Cauvery. The DPRs were funded by National Afforestation & Eco-development Board, (MoEF&CC) and prepared by Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE), Dehradun. 

Addressing the gathering, the Union Environment Minister said that the DPRs are in line with the holistic vision of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi of making the coming 25 years as Amrit Kaal as these DPRs will create a target of green cover expansion for upcoming 10 years and 20 years, then the future generations will get a Green India through the Van Bhagidari and Jan Bhagidari of the current generation. 

The total budget for 13 DPRs is estimated to be Rs. 19,342.62 crore. The DPRs will be executed through the State Forest Departments, which are the nodal department. They will also coordinate schemes of other line departments within the states to the activities proposed by the DPRs. 

Jal Shakti, Union Minister, addressed the gathering. He stated that water was the elixir to life. This fact was known to all traditionalists as rivers were revered as goddesses and cared for with deep respect in the hearts, minds, and souls. When we stopped considering what we give back, when we failed to balance the need for sustainable development with the need for environmental sustainability, when our society stopped being custodians and instead took over the resources, we began exploiting and over-exploiting them. 

The activities proposed in the DPRs will help achieve potential benefits of increasing the green cover, contain soil erosion, recharge water table and sequester carbon dioxide in addition to benefits in the form of non-timber forest produce.  

Forestry interventions will increase the cumulative forest cover by 7,417.36km2 over 13 riverscapes. The proposed interventions would be able to sequester 50.21 millions tons CO2 equivalent in plantations that are less than 10 years old and 74.76million tons CO2 equivalent for plantations that are more than 20 years old. The proposed interventions in thirteen riverscapes would help in ground water recharge to the extent of 1,889.89 million cubic meter per year, and reduction in sedimentation to the tune of 64,83,114 cubic meter per year.  

Additionally, Rs. The expected non-timber and forest products will generate 449.01 million. It is also anticipated that 344 million man-days will be created by planned activities as set out in 13 DPRs. 

The riverscape is proposed to be reforested by the rivers and their tributaries under different landscapes, including natural landscape, agricultural landscape, and urban landscape. The various models of forestry plantations include timber species, medicinal herbs, shrubs, fuel fodder, and fruit trees. They are intended to increase water, groundwater recharge and contain erosion. There are 667 proposed treatment and plantation models in the 13 DPRs that cover the proposed forestry interventions. They can be found in various landscapes. 

Each DPR includes a detailed geospatial analysis and review of the Riverscape, extensive review of the river environment, factors causing the current state and prioritization areas using Remote sensing techniques and GIS techniques, along with field verification of proposed forestry interventions through an extensive consult process. The DPR also designs and develops various treatment models for Natural and Urban landscapes in each of the designated riverscapes. 

DPRs address protection, afforestation. Catchment treatment, ecological restoration. moisture conservation. livelihood improvement. income generation. ecotourism by developing riverfronts, eco-parks. bringing awareness to the masses. As part of the DPRs, research and monitoring are also included. 

The efforts will help in achieving the international commitments of India such as NDC forestry sector goal of creation of additional carbon sink of 2.5 -3 billion tons of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030 under the Paris Agreement of UNFCCC, restoration of 26 million hectare of degraded lands by 2030 as a land degradation neutrality target under UNCCD, halt the biodiversity loss by 2030 under CBD and Sustainable Development Goals.