Whatever the chances, the Haryana Government, led by Manohar Lal, appears to be determined to leave a mark by reviving the Vedic period Sarasvati river. Taking the agenda another step forward, Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB), constituted by the state government in 2015, on Thursday, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the public sector Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in New Delhi for restoration and research work on the Sarasvati river.
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The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Lal and Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan.
As part of the MoU, among other things, ONGC will develop 100 wells on the believed flow path of Sarasvati river. WAPCOS Limited, a “Mini Ratna-I” and “ISO 9001:2008” accredited public sector enterprise under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Water Resource, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, will conduct an advance survey for this purpose.
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Appreciating the state government’s efforts in restoring the revered, but now extinct, river, Union minister Pradhan said ONGC will initially bore 10 wells on flow path of Sarasvati river. Subsequently the number of wells would be increased to 100, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Manohar Lal said the main purpose of setting up the Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board was to restore the Sarasvati river and its ancient sites with a view to developing the area as a major global attraction for religious tourism.
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Among others present were HSHDB Vice-Chairman Prashant Bhardwaj, Secretary in the Union Ministry of Oil and Natural Gas K.D. Tripathi, ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Dinesh K Sarraf and Haryana Cultural Affairs Principal Secretary Sumita Misra.
HSHDB’s Mission
• To initiate, promote and support research in the field of Sarasvati Heritage.
• To assist in the preservation and restoration of Sarasvati Heritage.
• To raise awareness about richness and importance of the Sarasvati Heritage.
• To develop Tourism, and a Cultural corridor, along the course of Sarasvati Heritage Area paleochannels (remnants of an inactive river or stream channel that has been either filled or buried by younger sediment).
HSHDB website : http://hshdb.in
, constituted by the state government in 2015, on Thursday, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the public sector Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in New Delhi for restoration and research work on the Sarasvati river.){kind=link}