New Delhi : Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today met Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi and discussed various important issues related to scientific dredging in flood-affected river areas of Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister said that excessive rainfall, floods and flash floods lead to the accumulation of large quantities of debris, boulders, stones and sand in river channels, adversely affecting their water-carrying capacity and increasing the risk of flooding to human settlements, roads, bridges, forests and other critical infrastructure. He said that the scientific and time-bound dredging in such vulnerable areas is essential from the perspective of disaster risk reduction.
He urged the Union Minister to issue clear and enabling guidelines based on the decisions and recommendations of the Forest Advisory Committee, so that proposals related to dredging could be processed and disposed of in a time-bound manner.
The Chief Minister also urged the Ministry to create a separate category for river dredging on the PARIVESH portal and keep such activities distinct from conventional mining activities. He said that the objective of removing debris from river channels after floods is to restore the water-carrying capacity of rivers, remove obstructions to river flow and protect human lives and public infrastructure.
The Chief Minister further requested exemption of river dredging projects from the requirement of compensatory afforestation. He said that such activities do not involve diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes and that scientific dredging is undertaken primarily to facilitate the smooth flow of rivers and reduce flood risks.
Sh. Sukhu said that the quantity of material deposited in rivers following floods is often substantial. Therefore, a clear mechanism is required for the safe, regulated and appropriate utilization and disposal of material extracted through dredging.
He said that the state government was committed to undertake dredging works strictly on the basis of scientific assessment, replenishment studies and detailed dredging plans. The quantity of material to be removed and the area to be covered would be determined on scientific parameters and the works would be carried out only during the non-monsoon period in accordance with all environmental norms and prescribed safety measures.
The Chief Minister said that wherever necessary, dredging would be incorporated as part of the relevant forest and river management plans. The net revenue generated through the regulated utilization and disposal of dredged material would be utilized for sustainable development and forest-related activities.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav assured the Chief Minister that clear and enabling guidelines would be issued for scientific dredging in Himachal Pradesh to minimize losses caused by floods and other natural disasters. He said that while facilitating the necessary procedures, the practical requirements and interests of Himachal Pradesh would also be duly taken into consideration.
He further assured that the interests of Himachal Pradesh would be given due priority while considering matters related to dredging and that necessary support would be extended for effective river management and disaster risk reduction.
Chief Secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Principal Secretary (Finance) Devesh Kumar, Principal Secretary (Forests) M. Sudha Devi and Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar were present in the meeting.