On the first anniversary of the floods and heavy rains along the banks of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers in Uttarakhand that left thousands dead, the Union Water Resources Ministry has decided to strengthen banks of four rivers that originate from the Himalayas.
Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said here on Monday that trees would be planted along the banks of the Ganga, Yamuna, Alaknanda and Mandakini. She said a tree plantation drive would be held at Gangotri, Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Navdeep and Gangasagar on Tuesday. Bharti said the embankments of the rivers that were damaged during the tragedy last year would be repaired soon. “We are in consultation with the Ministries of Environment and Tourism to expedite the task,” she added.
The Centre will also study the rise in water levels in the lakes located in the Himalayas. “We will give warning about any increase in the water level of lakes of more than 50 hectares size, located in high altitudes. The Ministry will pass on the information to the states concerned,” the Minster told reporters here.