Rajasthan's Banas river can be revived: Environmentalist

Jalandhar, Sep 23 (UNI) Noted environmentalist and Magsaysay Awardee Rajendra Singh today said joint efforts by the people and the government could revive Rajasthan's dying Banas river as a perennial river in the next five to ten years.

Talking to reporters here today Mr Singh said determined efforts by villagers for water harvesting had suceeded in recharging the water table in areas in the upstream of the river which passes through several districts of Rajasthan.

He said the efforts are part of the prolonged campaign being undertaken in the desert state jointly by Tarun Bharat Sangh and the villagers for past several years.

Mr Singh, popularly known as ''water man of India'' has been spearheading campaigns such as rain water harvesting and community driven decentralised resources management programme in Rajasthan since 1984. These campaigns had already succeeded in bringing 1,056 villages in the 'white zone'.

Mr Singh said improvement in ground water level had led to revival of five dried up rivers-Arwari, Ruparel, Sarsa, Bhagani and the Jhajwali.

He said if the efforts are spread and continued at the present pace then rivers like the Banas would be revived by next 10 years but this time span can also be reduced to five years if the state government joined these efforts by ensuring proper regulation of discharge and recharge of water.

Mr Singh added that the government should frame a law to regulate discharge of water table and play supportive and encouraging role in the ongoing campaign.

Mr Singh was in the town to speak in the Nature Conservation Festiwal function organised by the Vajra Army Wives Welfare Association(AWWA) and WWF-India at Jalandhar Cantonment here.

Speaking at the function he stressed up on the need of rain water harvesting, afforestation drive and protection of the wild life.

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