News excerpt:

The government is set to unveil North India’s first river rejuvenation project ‘Devika’.

About Project ‘Devika’

• The project DEVIKA was launched by the Prime Minister in February 2019. 
• It is built on the lines of ‘Namami Gange’.
• The River rejuvenation project ‘Devika’ is in the final stages and it will be completed soon.

• The Liquid Waste Management (LWM) project has been undertaken separately to protect the sanctity of the holy river in Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir. 
• This project has been included in the Government of India’s National River Conservation Project (NRCP).
•  The LWM project with the network of pipes and manholes connecting all the households under the project is being constructed by J&K’s Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) to protect its sanctity.
•  Built at a cost of over Rs 190 crore, the sharing of fund allocation is in the ratio of 90:10 by the center and U.T (Jammu & Kashmir) respectively.
•  Besides a Liquid Waste Management Project, a Solid Waste Management (SWM) project will also be constructed under Devika Rejuvenation Project which is vital in many aspects protecting the sanctity of the river. 
•  The project also includes the construction of three sewage treatment plants, development of two cremation ghats, protection fencing and landscaping, small hydropower plants and three solar power plants.
• After the completion of the project, the rivers will see reduction in pollution and improvement in water quality.

About Devika river

• The Devika River originates from the hilly Suddha Mahadev temple in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It flows down towards western Punjab (now in Pakistan) where it merges with the Ravi River.
• The river presently runs under its sandy surface.

Religious significance

•  Devika River is considered the sister of the sacred river Ganga, and it has a great religious significance.
• This River is mentioned in the Nilmat Puran that was written in the 7th century by Nela Muni also, this river is mentioned in Devi Mahatmya  .
• Cremation on the sands of Devika is considered as meritorious as cremation on the banks of the Ganges at Kashi.