Haryana govt to trace Saraswati river

Chandigarh, Apr 8: The Haryana Government has decided to engage the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) for locating the aquifers of the holy Saraswati river.

This was disclosed by Irrigation Minister, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav while presiding over a meeting of the Irrigation Department here today.

Capt Yadav said this decision had been taken due to the deep sentiments of the people associated with the Saraswati river.

He revealed that it was also decided in the meeting that ONGC would take up explorations to locate the bed of the Saraswati river in Kalayat area of Kaithal district on priority basis.

He said the State Government would give all assistance for this purpose including making land available for exploratory bores. It was also decided in the meeting that the Water Supply and Sanitation Department as well as HUDA would take steps urgently to prevent flow of any polluted water into the Saraswati channel, he added.

Capt Yadav directed the officers of the Irrigation Department that they should remodel the channel to carry about 200 cusecs of fresh water continuously and necessary land would be acquired for this purpose.

He informed that the department had prepared a project of approximately Rs 10 crore which would require acquisition of more than 20 acres of land and it was expected that the actual excavation of this channel would start by the middle of June 2008.

The Irrigation Minister also informed that a seminar would also be organised at HIRMI, Kurukshetra where scholars and scientists concerned with the works of Saraswati river would participate.

Others who attended the meeting included Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Irrigation Department, Mr R N Prasher, Head of Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Department of Space, Government of India, Jodhpur, Dr J R Sharma, Group General Manager, Head Knowledge Management, ONGC, Dehradun, Mr M Rajagopala Rao, Chief Scientist, Haryana State Remote Sensing Application Centre, Department of Science and Technology, CCS HAU, Hisar, Dr Ramesh S Hooda, Reader, Department of Geology, Kurukshetra University, Dr A R Chaudhri and senior officers of the Irrigation Department.

UNI