Context: Recently, Ministry for Forest, Environment and Climate Change announced the “rejuvenation” of 13 major rivers, which could increase the country’s forest cover by up to 7,417.36 square kilometers.

Key Points

• The project contributes towards the livelihood of terrestrial and aquatic biota. The budget outlay of thirteen DPRs is Rs. 19,342.62 crore.
• The detailed project reports (DPRs) of the 13 rivers were prepared by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).

The following 13 rivers are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Luni, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Cauvery.

• According to the DPRs, a riparian forest functions “as the ‘natural buffers’ and ‘biofilters’ and supplement key processes such as the ‘self-regulation’ and self-purification.”

To avoid risks, forest department officials should ensure the “quality of planting stock, particularly age and size are important aspects,” and that conservation of soil and moisture should be done before plantation to further mitigate risk.

Aim Of The Project

• The project targets to create green cover expansion for upcoming 10 years and 20 years under 'Amrit Kaal' and also aims for the future generations to get a 'Green India' through the 'Van Bhagidari and Jan Bhagida' - to achieve national goal of climate change and sustainable development.

Funding Of The Project

• The DPRs were funded by National Afforestation & Eco-development Board, MoEF&CC and it is prepared by Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education(ICFRE), Dehradun.

Coverage of The Rivers

1. 13 rivers collectively cover a total basin area of 18,90,110 sq. km, which represents 57.45% of the geographical area of the country.
2. The length of 13 rivers including 202 tributaries within the delineated riverscapes is 42,830 km.
3. The rivers along with their tributaries cover forestry interventions in the riverscape under different landscapes namely natural landscape, agricultural landscape and urban landscape.

Key benefit

• The project will improve groundwater recharge, contain soil erosion, and increase non-timber produce.
• The success of the project hinges on several factors, including the correct method of plantation and changes in climate.

Proposal Of Treatment And Plantation Models

1. The forestry plantations includes timber species, medicinal plants, grasses, shrubs and fuel fodder and fruit trees are aimed to augment water, ground water recharge and contain erosion.
2. A total of 667 treatment and plantation models are proposed in all the 13 DPRs for the proposed forestry interventions and supporting activities.
3. In all, 283 treatment models have been proposed for the natural landscapes, 97 treatment models in Agriculture Landscapes and 116 different treatment models in Urban Landscapes.
4. Site specific treatments in terms of soil & moisture conservation and plantations of grasses, herbs, forestry and horticultural trees have been proposed for treatment of prioritized sites in the riverscape supported by Geographic Information System (GIS) technique.
5. Each DPR contains detailed geospatial analysis of the delineated Riverscape, exhaustive review on the river environment and factors responsible for it.

Focus of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRS)

• The DPRs focus on protection, afforestation, catchment treatment, ecological restoration, moisture conservation, livelihood improvement, income generation, ecotourism by developing
• It also includes research and monitoring.

Outcome From The Project

1. Forest cover to increase by 7,417.36 km2.
2. Recharge in groundwater upto 1,889.89 million m3 yr-1.
3. Generating economy of Rs. 449.01 crore from non timber and other forest products.
4. Employments will be generated for 344 million man-days.
5. Under Paris Agreement of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC), India, to achieve a carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tons of CO2.
6. Restoration of 26 million hectare of degraded lands by 2030 as a land degradation neutrality target under United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification(UNCCD).
7. Under Panchamrit commitment at COP-26, Glasgow:-

• India aimed to reduce carbon emission by one billion tonnes by 2030.
• Meet 50 percent of energy requirements with renewable energy by 2030.
• Enhance non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatt by 2030.
• Reduce the carbon intensity economy by 45 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero

By: Shubham Tiwari