UP Revives 50 Rivers Through Namami Gange, MNREGA Integration

In a landmark move towards water conservation and rural self-sustainability, the Uttar Pradesh government has achieved the revival of 50 rivers in the state through an integrated effort under the Namami Gange and MNREGA schemes. Spanning a massive program, 3,363 kilometers of river length, spread over 1,011 gram panchayats in different districts, has been revived.

The river restoration campaign not only enhanced the groundwater level but also improved irrigation facilities for agriculture and generated thousands of rural employment opportunities, meeting both ecological and economic ends. The tasks involved de-silting, riverbed cleaning, removal of encroachments, deepening of river channels, and embankment and pond strengthening.

State authorities pointed out that it was among the biggest river rejuvenation operations of this scale in India. The exercise was conducted through consolidating funds and human resources of the MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and Namami Gange mission—India's flagship initiative for rejuvenation of rivers and improvement of water quality.

The initiative's success is indicated by the increase in water tables in the nearby areas, enhanced supply of irrigation water to farmers, and increased involvement of rural communities in local water conservation.

This project is also likely to be a model for other states that want to adopt nature-based solutions for water security and sustainable livelihoods. State rural development and water resources department officials said the model will be duplicated in more areas and rivers in the state.

By this intervention, Uttar Pradesh not only made a robust move toward ecological rehabilitation but also achieved employment targets under MNREGA while empowering villages to be more water-fortified and agriculture-hardy.