The project will reduce pollution and improve the water quality

River Devika National Project in Jammu & Kashmir should signify a sense of harmony and unity, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said.

Describing it as a first-of-its kind in North India, Singh said he visualises the historic Devika Project not only as a project of faith but as "a monument of consensus and conciliation".

The minister visited the site of the Devika Rejuvenation Project on Saturday to review its progress.

Under the centrally funded Rs.190 crore National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) Devika project, bathing “ghats” (places) on the banks of the Devika River will be developed, encroachments will be removed, natural water bodies will be restored and catchment areas will be developed along with cremation ground.

The project includes the construction of three sewage treatment plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD and 1.6 MLD capacity, sewerage network of 129.27 km, development of two cremation ghats, protection fencing and landscaping, small hydropower plants and three solar power plants.

On completion of the project, the river will see reduction in pollution and improvement in water quality.

The Devika Project was formally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Jammu in early 2019.

In June last year, Jitendra Singh had also inaugurated the important Devika Bridge in Udhampur. Apart from taking care of traffic congestion, the Devika Bridge is meant to help smooth passage of Army convoys and vehicles.