https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Reviving Tamsa River

Known for its cultural and religious importance, it was on its banks that Lord Rama is believed to have spent his first night after exile, the Tamsa river in Ayodhya became almost extinct in recent years. But the District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha has brought the Tamsa back to life, after battling decades of environmental degradation of this river.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Imagine bringing a near-extinct river back to life. It’s not such an easy task as it may look in first blush, but when you have a gritty officer in charge, such as Mr Anuj Kumar Jha overseeing the operation, the task is bound to complete.

The river in focus is Tamsa; it flows for about 150 kilometre in the Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh. This river is also revered for its cultural importance; it’s believed that Lord Rama, immediately after his exile, spent his first night on the banks of Tamsa.

ALMOST KILLED BY POLLUTION AND NEGLECT

But in the recent years, Tamsa bore the brunt of pollutants thrown into its water and also its environmental degradation. It had reached the point of becoming completely extinct when the administration of Ayodhya, led by the DM Mr Jha, stepped and decided to do something about it.

The Tamsa river before rejuvenation

Tamsa originates from village Lakhnipur in the Ayodhya district. the river flows through 77-gram panchayats in 10 blocks. Years of urbanization and encroachment polluted the sacred river. In fact, in the Movai and Rudoli blocks of Ayodhya, the river completely disappeared on a 25-kilometre stretch.

PROJECT TAMSA TAKES OFF

In 2019, the Uttar Pradesh govt launched a scheme to revive the holy river. The Ayodhya district administration, under the leadership of the then district magistrate Anil Kumar Pathak started initiatives. Later on, Mr. Pathak was transferred and new DM Anuj Kumar Jha completed his mission to revive the Tamsa river.

The river after rejuvenation

According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti “the de-silting work of nearly the entire stretch of the river has been completed and about 2 lakh plants have been planted as part of the afforestation component. Besides, while all rainwater streams are being connected to the river to augment flow, all sewage drains merged into the river are being tapped to arrest pollution. Several check dams and other structures have been built at every 5 kilometers that have stopped water logging in farms and enhanced agricultural productivity.”

The river has religious importance, so while renovating it was kept in mind that the places around its banks should remain intact. There were many ancient `ashrams’ in the area from where it flew. Efforts were also made to develop these regions in a “tourist-friendly’’ manner.

REVIVED, FINALLY

The administration’s rejuvenation work has worked like a wonder drug for the dying river. Tamsa is now gushing with life, with increased water flow as well as better groundwater levels in its vicinity.

Ayodhya DM inspecting the work of the river

Moreover, the project to rejuvenate Tams also brought employment to the people as it was linked to MGNREGA. Thousands of laborers from the villages through which the river passes were engaged in different restoration works.

The Minsitry of Jalshakti (Water Resource) appreciated the Tamsa river’s rejuvenation and awarded the Ayodhya district magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha with the first prize for “the best district revival of the river, North in 2019.’


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Renewable Energy
India Must Double Renewable Energy Addition to 50 GW Annually to Hit 2030 Goal, Says S&P Global - Details Inside
THDC-resized
THDC India Commissions Nation’s First Variable Speed Pumped Storage Unit at Tehri, Marks Historic Milestone in Renewable Energy - All Details Mentioned Here
Prakash Punj, Patna Sahib
Beautification Work Completed at Prakash Punj, Patna Sahib: A New Landmark for Sikh Heritage & Tourism
Indian Railways
Indian Railways Strengthens Ticketing System with Digital Overhaul & Anti-BOT Measures - Know More
WCL Western Coalfield
WCL Achieves Record Profit Before Tax of Rs. 4,376 Crore in FY 2024–25, All Details Inside
Bihar vegetables
Historic: Bihar Exports Vegetables to Dubai for the First Time: Minister Prem Kumar Flags Off Consignment
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
3 IPS Officers Transferred in Madhya Pradesh Police Department Reshuffle; Priyanka Shukla Made AIG, Bhopal Police HQ
ICAS Service
Ministry of Finance Notifies New Indian Civil Accounts Service Recruitment Rules, 2025 - Here is All You Need To Know
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
Monika Singh’s Life Beyond the Bureaucracy | Video Interview 
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Divyanshu Pal Nagar IFS
5 Years, 5 Mains, 4 Interviews: How Divyanshu Pal Nagar Stumbled in CSE, Triumphed in IFS - A Lesson for Every Aspirant
Divyanshu Pal Nagar’s inspiring five-year UPSC journey shows how perseverance, disciplined self-study,...
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
Social Media
Tiger jump Sundarban
Stunning Viral Video Shows Royal Bengal Tiger Making Spectacular 30-Foot Leap Across River in Sunderbans - See It Here
Retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda shared the clip online, which quickly went...
shubham kumar ias marriage
IAS Topper Weds BPSC Topper: Shubham Kumar Marries IRS Officer Priyangi Mehta in Patna; Wedding Video Goes Viral
Topper Couple Alert: Shubham Kumar, Priyangi Mehta’s Wedding Grabs Spotlight in Bihar
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Renewable Energy
India Must Double Renewable Energy Addition to 50 GW Annually to Hit 2030 Goal, Says S&P Global - Details Inside
THDC-resized
THDC India Commissions Nation’s First Variable Speed Pumped Storage Unit at Tehri, Marks Historic Milestone in Renewable Energy - All Details Mentioned Here
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT