The Jammu and Kashmir government is preparing a detailed project report to rejuvenate the Devika river for which Rs 170.54 crore has been approved by the Centre under the National River Conservation plan.
The river holds a religious significance as it is revered as by Hindus as the sister of river Ganga.
Also known as Devika Nagari, it originates from the hilly Suddha Mahadev temple in Udhampur district and flows down towards western Punjab (now in Pakistan) where it merges with the Ravi river.
Waste and sewage is being dumped into the river and there is also encroachment on its banks which has prompted vociferous demands for its restoration from various quarters.
The rejuvenation of the river was approved by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change early this year.
"The modalities for the preparation of the DPRfor the holy Devika river's rejuvenation was discussed at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Housing and Urban Development Department CommissionerSecretary Hirdesh Kumar at Udhampur yesterday," an official spokesman said today.
Kumar directed the consultant agency to take all the stakeholders on board while preparing the DPR.
He also stressed upon the preparation of the DPR within the stipulated time frame so that work on the project could be undertaken at the earliest, the spokesman said.
All the departments concerned have been asked to extend their full cooperation to the consultant agency, he said.
The rise in riverbed and continuous pollution has increased the risk of possible overflow of the river and health hazards due to pollutants.
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