PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
As part of the Dehradun district administration’s initiative to revive the Rispana river, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has been directed to identify all drains and garbage dumping points along the nearly 15-kilometre stretch of the river and submit a detailed action plan within seven days.
During a review meeting chaired by Dehradun district magistrate Ashish Chauhan, the MCD was instructed to conduct drone and stretch-wise surveys of the river. The civic body will assess the quantity of waste, review sanitation arrangements and prepare location-specific proposals for cleaning operations and preventing garbage dumping.
Chief municipal health officer Dr Anand Shukla said that the MCD will prepare the action plan as directed by the district administration and continue efforts to prevent garbage from entering the Rispana through better waste management and monitoring.The Rispana originates near Mussoorie and water from Shikhar Falls also merges in it. He said that it was also decided that the entire river stretch would be tracked using drones to ensure that no sewage, garbage or polluted drains are mixing with the river. Strict action will be taken wherever pollution is found. The district magistrate also directed the formation of an inter-departmental task force to coordinate the river rejuvenation project. He said that the revival of the Rispana requires not only government efforts but also active public participation and behavioural change to stop waste from being dumped into the river.
Chauhan said that the short-term plan will focus on immediate garbage removal, elimination of dumping points and public awareness, while the long-term strategy includes riverfront development, ghat construction, plantation and other infrastructure works.
Senior officials from the MCD, Irrigation department, Public Works Department, Forest department, Mussoorie Municipal Council and other departments also attended the meeting.
