Rejuvenation Work of Saraswati River

What is the News?

A Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) has been signed between the Governments of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for the construction of the Adi Badri dam on river Somb in Himachal Pradesh, which among others will rejuvenate the Sarasvati river.

Note: Adi Badri, situated in Haryana near the Himachal Pradesh border, is believed to be the Saraswati river’s origin point.

Committee on Saraswati River: The Government of India had constituted a committee of experts. In its report, it had concluded that the Saraswati River, so far considered mythical, existed. It has also ​​found evidence of the course of the river Saraswati.

What is the course of the Saraswati River?

Origin: Saraswati River originated in the Himalayas and met the gulf at the western sea.

States: The river passed through Haryana, Rajasthan and North Gujarat, the land texture of which was studied by the panel.

Countries: The river passed through Pakistan before meeting the Western Sea through the Rann of Kutch. One-third of the river stretch fell in present-day Pakistan. The longer, two-third stretch fell in India.

The river had two branches: western and eastern. 

– Western Branch: The Himalayan-born Satluj “of the PAST”, which flowed through the channels of present-day Ghaggar-Patialiwali rivulets represents the western branch of the ancient river.

– Eastern Branch: Markanda and Sarsuti (the corruption of Saraswati) represented the western branch of Saraswati, known as Tons-Yamuna.

The confluence of these branches was near Shatrana, 25 km south of Patiala. And suddenly, it flows crossing the desert (Rann of Kutch) and meets the Gulf of the western sea.

What is the historical evidence of the Saraswati River?

The Sarasvati River is one of the main Rigvedic rivers mentioned in the scripture Rig Veda and later Vedic and post-Vedic texts.

Book 6 of the Rig Veda includes a hymn called the ‘Nadistuti Sukta’, which sings praises of the Saraswati as being a “perfect mother, unsurpassed river, supreme goddess”.

Source: This post is based on the article “Rejuvenation Work of Saraswati River” published in PIB on 28th March 2022.