Sarayu Nahar National Project

The Sarayu Nahar National Project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh in December 2021. The project provides water for irrigation to more than 14 hectares of land. It will benefit 29 lakh farmers in the region.

About the Project

• The Sarayu Nahar National Project interlinks five rivers. They are Sarayu, Ghaghara, Banganga, Rapti and Rohini.
• The project was started in 1978. But was discontinued due to lack of budgetary support, adequate monitoring and inter departmental coordination.
• The project will benefit the farmers in the regions of Sravasti, Gorakhpur, Gonda, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar, Basti, Maharajaganj.

Under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

In 2016, the project was brought under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was launched to provide protective irrigation to agricultural farms to produce “per drop more crop”. It aims at integrating water sources, improve water use efficiency, enhance adoption of water saving technologies, recharge aquifers.

River Ghaghara

The Ghaghara River is the major tributary of Ganges. It is a trans boundary river. It originates in Tibetan plateau near Manasarovar lake. The Karnali and Sharda rivers join together to form the Ghaghara river.

Sarayu river

The Sarayu river originates in the southern ridge of Nanda Kot mountain in Uttarakhand. It is also known as Kali river. The Hindus believe that Lord Rama went to Vaikunth Lok along with the residents of Ayodhya from this river.

Rapti

The Rapti river rises between the Mhabharat Range in Nepal and the Western Dhaulagiri Himalaya. The river is fed mainly by the underground water. It has been nick named as “Sorrow of Gorakhpur” for its recurrent floods.

Rohini

The Rohini river rises in the Siqalik Hills in Kapilvastu. It flows into Uttar Pradesh. Buddhists believe that Siddhartha Gautama (Lord Buddha) crossed this river in his return to Kapilvastu.