Pindari Glacier to make Kumaon's Drying Rivers Sadaneera

• 05 Sep 2022

Why In News?

On September 4, 2022, Chief Engineer of Drinking Water Corporation SC Pant informed that the major tributaries of Pindar river originating from Pindari glacier will be connected to the upper catchment area of Gomti river, Kosi, Lodh and Gagas rivers in Baijnath valley of Bageshwar district, which will meet water needs for the next 50 years.

Key Points

• The Pindar river originating from the Pindari glacier will help in making the drying rivers of Bageshwar and Almora districts Sadaneera. Apart from the population of seven big cities, about one thousand villages will also benefit.
• Along with saving the rivers, this scheme will also prove to be helpful in drinking water, irrigation, power generation, increasing greenery in the area. It will also help in preventing migration from villages.
• It is worth mentioning that in the 23rd meeting of the Central Zonal Council chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Bhopal, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had mentioned this scheme, so that the help of the Center can be taken in taking the scheme forward. The scheme is estimated to cost 250 to 300 crore rupees.
• Under the scheme, about 150 km from Pindar river and its tributaries Sundardhunga Gad and Shambhu Gad (located at an altitude of 22 hundred meters above sea level). Water will be supplied to the near Malla Paya village of Kumaon (height 18 hundred meters above sea level) by laying a 1.5 meter diameter pipeline.
• About 42 cumecs (cubic meters per second) of water from these rivers flows into the Alaknanda River, a tributary of the Ganges. Out of this, one and a half to two cumecs of water will be diverted towards Kumaon through pipeline.