Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday virtually launched the Sakri River Rejuvenation Program in Kabirdham district, which aims to protect the Sakri River and restore its flow to full capacity through tree plantation.

Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar, Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, and Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat were present on the occasion.

Addressing the programme, Chief Minister Baghel said that tree plantation along the riverbanks in forest and revenue land, tree plantation under the Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana on private land, and water and soil conservation work through the Narva scheme in forest areas and construction work in revenue areas under the MGNREGA scheme will be carried out as part of this integrated project.

Sakri River Rejuvenation book released

This unified project will provide sufficient water for domestic use and irrigation to farmers in the Kabirdham district. Sakri River Rejuvenation book was also released in the programme.

State Backward Classes Commission member Mahesh Chandravanshi, CREDA member Kanhaiya Agarwal, Zila Panchayat member Mukhiram Markam, Agam Das Anant, Collector Janmejay Mahobe, Divisional Forest Officer Chudamani Singh were connected through the virtual medium from village Amarodi in the programme.

Aim to prevent erosion and ensure year-round flow of Sakri River

Forest Minister and Kawardha MLA Mohammad Akbar informed that the origin of the Sakri River is Mudwahi village. The Sakri River flows through 59 villages in the Kawardha district, covering a distance of 45 kilometres. Due to silt accumulation over time, the river is unable to flow at full capacity throughout the year and has become obstructed.

To ensure the year-round flow of the river, tree plantation of various species will be done on both banks of the river under the Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana. Additionally, various structures such as check dams, and gabions will be built by the Forest, Irrigation, Horticulture Department, Revenue, and Agriculture Departments, and MGNREGA to prevent river erosion.

The Water Resources Department will also repair the 17 annicuts and stop dams previously built and remove silt from various locations in the river. This will ensure that the river flows at full capacity throughout the year. The Sakri River joins the Half River near Dadhi in the Bemetara district, and treatment will be done there as well.

Collector Janmejay Mahobe has said that the Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana of the state government is an important scheme. The master plan prepared for the protection and conservation of the Sakri River includes a stretch of 45 kilometres in the Kabirdham district and 59 villages along the banks of the river.

The goal of this scheme is to plant additional trees on 400 acres every year as part of its expansion. The plantation of trees will be done to prevent the damage caused by the effects of climate change on both sides of the Sakri River.

Divisional Forest Officer Chudamani Singh said that work will be carried out on government land from Kariyaama to the final flow area under various schemes such as CAMPA, and MGNREGA, among others.

Similarly, under the Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana, attention has been given to river conservation. This will not only increase the income of the farmers concerned on unutilized land but also create direct and indirect employment opportunities at the local level.

Useful trees such as white sandalwood, rudraksha, tissue teak, tissue culture bamboo, clonal eucalyptus, milia dubia neem, medicinal and commercial plants such as stevia, ashwagandha, sarpgandha, and satavar have been included for plantation on the riverbank.