Shimla, Sep 8: With floods and flash floods choking river channels with large quantities of debris, boulders, stones and sand, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the Centre to fast-track scientific dredging of vulnerable stretches to restore the rivers' water carrying capacity and reduce the risk to lives and critical infrastructure.
Sukhu made the request during a meeting with Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi, where the two discussed issues related to scientific dredging in flood-affected river areas of Himachal Pradesh.
The chief minister said scientific and time-bound dredging in vulnerable areas was essential from the perspective of disaster risk reduction.
He said 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.
Sukhu urged Yadav 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, a statement issued here said.
He 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.
Sukhu said the objective of removing debris from river channels after floods was to restore the water-carrying capacity of rivers, remove obstructions to their 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 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.
Sukhu said the quantity of material deposited in rivers following floods was often substantial and a clear mechanism was therefore required for the safe, regulated and appropriate utilisation and disposal of material extracted through dredging.
The state government was committed to undertaking dredging works strictly on the basis of scientific assessment, replenishment studies and detailed dredging plans, he said.
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, he added.
Wherever necessary, dredging would be incorporated as part of the relevant forest and river management plans, Sukhu said.
The net revenue generated through the regulated utilisation and disposal of dredged material would be utilised for sustainable development and forest-related activities, he said.
Yadav assured Sukhu that clear and enabling guidelines would be issued for scientific dredging in Himachal Pradesh to minimise 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, the statement added.
The Union minister 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.
