Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh)— Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini chaired a meeting of the Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board at the Secretariat on Wednesday, approving key measures for the conservation, rejuvenation, and scientific development of the Saraswati River. During the session, the Chief Minister released the board’s achievements report and emphasized that restoring the historic river remains a top priority for the state government to boost tourism, enhance groundwater recharge, and preserve cultural heritage.
To establish a sustainable water flow, the board approved a proposal to engage IIT Roorkee for technical consultation and a detailed project report studying water linkage between the Tons Basin and the Saraswati Basin. Researchers will evaluate methods to channel water from the glacier-fed Tons River and seasonal streams into the Saraswati bed, alongside assessing water quality and developing scientific models for long-term groundwater security. The Chief Minister also reviewed progress on the 350-acre Saraswati Sarovar reservoir, where 10 lakh cubic feet of excavation work has been completed, and instructed irrigation officials to expedite barrage construction without technical delays.
The state government has planned a $₹56$-crore developmental blueprint focusing on the Pehowa region, which includes the beautification of the Prachi Saraswati tributary, construction of bathing ghats, modern bridges, cultural sheds, and temple restorations. Saini directed officials to install informative signage across 40 to 50 key locations to educate the public on the river’s historical significance, while issuing strict instructions to prevent untreated wastewater from entering the riverbed through coordinated maintenance of sewage treatment plants.
