PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
The continuous heavy showers lashing Nainital district for the past three days have left the rivers and rivulets raging. While many streams dry up in summer, they are now swollen. The north-flowing Shipra river, which meanders through Nainital district, is also in full spate these days. This river is all the more important because it flows near Kainchi Dham. However, the swift-flowing has not yet damaged Kainchi Dham and the areas surrounding the shrine till now.
Flowing in the Bhowali region, about 11 kms from Nainital, Shipra’s origin is believed to be in the Gagar forests. It finally merges with Kosi river near Khairna.
It is hard to imagine now that just a few years ago, it was facing an existential crisis, reduced to a trickle. Pollution and sewage discharge directly into the river had left it resemble a dirty drain at many places.
In 2017, the Shipra welfare committee was formed to improve its condition. The president of the committee Jagdish Negi explained that the river has seven major water recharge zones, where water conservation efforts are underway. “Efforts are being made to channel rainwater into the ground by constructing khals and check dams in these areas. Work has also been done to protect forests from fires and to promote the natural regeneration of trees like oak, kaafal, rhododendron, ayar, and mehar through Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR),” he added.
Shipra is also linked to the folklore of Kainchi Dham and Neeb Karori Baba. A local resident Bhuvan Chandra Tiwari explained that as per legend, when the ghee ran out during a feast at Kainchi Dham, Baba ordered water from the Shipra turned into ghee. “Later, Baba ordered three canisters of ghee taken from the river to be returned to the river. Following this, the three canisters of ghee were poured into Shipra,” he added.
