Dhamtari's ‘MAA' mission aims to restore Mahanadi's origin area

Time of India

4 days ago

Raipur: The Dhamtari district administration launched a special campaign, 'Mahanadi Awakening Abhiyan' (MAA), to restore the Mahanadi River's origin area.
The 18-km stretch from Pharshiya to Sihawa will be covered under this initiative, which aims to enhance ecological balance and promote sustainable development.
Dhamtari collector Abinash Mishra said the comprehensive reformation of the Mahanadi River's origin will involve desilting the riverbed, reinforcing banks, enhancing green cover, beautifying surroundings, making the area accessible to the public, developing the surrounding region, and engaging the community in conservation efforts.
Mishra said that by revitalising the river's source, MAA hopes to enhance the region's popularity, transforming the river's origin into a tourist attraction, boosting agricultural output, and improving the livelihoods of local residents as well as the regional economy.
MAA was inaugurated on May 2 and the ceremony was joined by thousands of villagers across several villages in the Dhamtari district.
Mishra said the MAA campaign is a special initiative and an extended version of the state govt's ongoing campaign 'Mor Gaon, Mor Paani'. A nearly 20 km stretch alongside the Mahanadi River, considered the lifeline of Chhattisgarh and one of the ten largest rivers in India, will be covered under the MAA campaign.
He said that this is a large project initiated in India and they are working scientifically to ensure better results.
In the last two months, cleaning, encroachment removal, beautification, and plantation on the river banks were undertaken. The collector said ten villages, including Pharshiya, Sambalpur, Chikhli, and Ganeshwar, will benefit through sustainable development plans executed under the campaign.
Major emphasis will be given to developing Karneshwar Mahadev Dham and Shringi Rishi Ashram, spread across 1.5 km, as a tourist spot. Road widening and anicut construction will be done. Measures will be taken to overcome the water crisis under the campaign. collector said they are taking help from educational institutions, NCC, NSS, various govt departments, public participation, and IIT Madras for technical support.
Mishra said it is a one-year project and this awareness campaign is dedicated to rejuvenating the Mahanadi, which originates in Chhattisgarh, flows across Odisha, and finally merges into the Bay of Bengal. He added that it is a collective movement to build awareness, encourage participation, and foster responsibility towards conserving and rejuvenating the Mahanadi.