Lucknow: Jalshakti Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Swatantra Dev Singh informed that the Irrigation Department has reduced the slope of Gurra river and by maintaining continuous flow in Rapti river in summer, has benefited a population of about 60000 and animals and birds of 33 villages including 27 villages of Gorakhpur district and 06 villages of Deoria district, as well as increased ground water.
He informed that along with this, a commendable work has been done to protect a population of 35000 of 26 villages including 20 villages of Gorakhpur district and 06 villages of Deoria district by reducing the damage caused by floods during floods from Gurra river.
Swatantra Dev Singh informed that the origin of Gurra river is village Rudain Majhgawan, tehsil-Bansgaon and village Semrauna, tehsil-Chauri Chaura from Rapti river flowing in Gorakhpur district. Due to the slope of Gurra river from its origin being higher than that of Rapti river, the flow of water during floods and summers is not proportional, due to which there is a possibility of heavy destruction from Gurra river during the flood period, while on the other hand, due to drying up of Rapti river in summers, people’s lives were affected due to lack of drinking water and agricultural work for the population, animals and birds.
Swatantra Dev Singh said that along with this, efforts were also made to revive the Chhoti Gandak river on the initiative of the Irrigation Department, in which the work of restoration of the section of the river has been started. During the process of bringing the river to its original form, the groundwater level started coming in the river and the initiative taken by the Irrigation Department proved to be effective and successful.
The Jalshakti Minister said that Chhoti Gandak is a winding groundwater based river which originates from Parsauni district-Nawalparasi of Nepal nation and enters Lakshmipur Khurd Gram Sabha district-Maharajganj Uttar Pradesh in India nation.
This river flows for a length of 250 km in Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria districts and finally merges with Ghaghra river near Gothani in Siwan district of Bihar state. After Chhoti Gandak entered India, its initial 10 km length had almost ceased to exist.
Due to which agriculture work started being done in the river section which was completely silted and narrowed. Work has been done rapidly to revive this river.
