Baan river to be rejuvenated in Bijnor: DM

Bijnor: In a significant initiative, district magistrate (DM) Jasjit Kaur announced an ambitious plan to rejuvenate the Baan river, following the successful restoration model implemented for the Malan river. The announcement was made during a multi-committee meeting held at the Collectorate.Directing the irrigation department to take action, the DM ordered a comprehensive survey of the river's flow route and the demarcation of its original course. The primary objective of the exercise is to identify and remove encroachments that obstructed the natural passage of the river over the years. She also instructed the district panchayati raj officer to ensure that large drains from villages in Mohammadpur Deomal block no longer discharge waste into the Ganga river system."If all goes well, the river will witness a substantial flow of water in the upcoming monsoon. Work will commence soon. We hope to complete it before the rainy season," the DM said.Once a vibrant tributary of the Ganga, the Baan river gradually disappeared due to unchecked encroachments and continuous discharge of industrial effluents. Over time, the river nearly ceased to exist in several stretches, turning it into a large drain.Originating from Uttarakhand, officials revealed the river flows through Bijnor and Amroha districts before merging with the Ganga. In Bijnor alone, it traverses five development blocks covering 57 village panchayats across a span of 103 km, while in Amroha it passes through 42 panchayats.Notably, two decades ago, villagers recall that the river moved in full flow and contributed to groundwater recharge. However, rampant encroachment and pollution pushed it to the brink of extinction.In 2020, then Amroha DM Umesh Mishra initiated restoration efforts in parts of the river, which yielded encouraging results. The renewed push in Bijnor now aims to restore the Baan river back to its old glory.