MP speeds up work on Rs 2,719-cr local river linking project

Ahead of Simhastha 2016, Madhya Pradesh government has sped up its Khan River cleaning and rejuvenating project in two phases with an estimated cost of Rs 2,719 crores. Khan river covers a distance of 78 km of which 33 km falls under urban area. The polluted Khan river has also become a main hurdle in recently completed Narmada-Kshipra river linking project that will release water into Kshipra during Simhastha.

However the task is bigger as it will have six sub-schemes. "Six detailed project reports are required for the entire project," a well-placed government official said. Indore region continues to discharge its wastes into the Khan river, which has been converted into an open sewer. In its turn, the Khan pollutes the water source of another city: Ujjain mainly Kshipra. The project envisages to clean up the open sewer in 33 km city area, development of green-belt and roads leading to the river. A high level meeting led by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan held in this regard in New Delhi the other day. State chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Rural Development and Sanitation Nitin Gadkari, Urban Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Rivers and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti discussed over the project. Mahajan is also Member of Parliament from Indore.

At the meeting it was decided to complete the project in two phases. The first phase of the project would include sewage treatment of Rs 400 crore while the second will chalk out strategy for the next five years. "Soon, the project will be presented before the National River Mission. The project is in fact rejuvenation of Chnadrabhaga and Saraswati, known as Khan river," said a government official. Sumitra Mahajan wanted the project to be taken up as pilot project. While Rural Development minister Nitin Gadkari, according to the official, stressed upon public private partnership for the project.

"Approximately 10,000 slum dwellers are needed to be relocated for the project," a senior government official in urban development department said. The first phase is expected to get completed before Ujjain Simhastha 2016, which will be organised between 22 April 2016 and 21 May 2016. State government is expecting 50 million devotees in Simhastha.

"State governmentis committed to ensuring that devotees of Simhastha would get clean water forholy dip during Simhastha to be held in year 2016. The first phase of theproject is proposed to be completed before December 2015," the official said.The Delhi meeting, the official said further, had discussed to ensure prevention of inflow of effluents, running of sewerage treatment plant with full capacity, re-settlement ofpopulation from river banks and ensure continuous flow of clean water in therivers.