Yogi govt begins revival of Budhi Rapti River in Shravasti as part of the statewide mission

The river spans 67.03 km with a catchment area of 18,356.64 hectares; 16.91 km stretch currently obstructed

Shravasti DM initiates revival work through ‘shramdaan’ to realise CM’s vision

Rejuvenation of Budhi Rapti set to enhance agricultural productivity and restore ecological balance in the region

Lucknow : As part of its ambitious mission to revive extinct and vanishing rivers across Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has initiated restoration work on the Budhi Rapti river in Shravasti district. With over 100 rivers already undergoing revival, this initiative aims to restore their natural flow and ecological balance.

Shravasti District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi said that under the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a major initiative has been launched to address water scarcity and restore environmental equilibrium through the rejuvenation of the Budhi Rapti river. The river’s alignment was mapped using remote sensing technology, and the restoration work is now underway.

To formally mark the beginning of the initiative, the District Magistrate and Chief Development Officer Shahid Ahmad offered prayers and symbolically dug the soil with a spade. The revival of the Budhi Rapti is being carried out with mass public participation and under the MGNREGA scheme. After the monsoon, large-scale desilting and flow restoration activities will be undertaken to help the river return to its natural course by next year.

The river’s total length is 67.03 km with a catchment area of 18,356.64 hectares. Of this, 16.91 km is obstructed while the remaining 51.12 km continues to flow naturally. The current project aims to restore the blocked segments and improve the river’s overall flow path.

The revival of Budhi Rapti will significantly enhance water availability for irrigation, directly benefiting farmers in the surrounding 54 villages. The river ultimately merges with the main Rapti river. According to surveys, there has been no major deviation in the river’s natural course. Soil quantity will be assessed during the cleaning process to revive its flow.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this initiative is setting new standards in water management and is expected to significantly improve irrigation facilities for farmers. In addition to ecological restoration, it will strengthen water access for farming and ensure sustainable agricultural development in the region.