Satlej — This Himalayan River is Dying
I remember spending hours with my friends on Satlej bridge in Rampur (Himachal) during my schooldays. It was like bridge is moving and we are also moving with bridge. Sometimes river waves were so high as they were touching us. It was our daily experience with the mighty river. Also What else u need for refreshment after long school hours. I can not explain this feeling in words. I have grown up seeing this mighty river flowing non stop. This river is flowing through ages. This has served many civilizations over centuries. This is not just a river but a civilization in itself.
I just want you to know few things about its history and origin (source wikipedia and google) -
Its vedic name is Satudri and Sanskrit name Shatadru. There is substantial geologic evidence to indicate that prior to 1700 BC, and perhaps much earlier, the Sutlej was an important tributary of the Ghaggar-Hakra River (thought to be the legendary Sarasvati River) rather than the Indus, with various authors putting the redirection from 2500 to 2000 BC from 5000 to 3000 BC or before 8000 BC . It originates from Mansarover lake in Tibet. This is one of the longest river flowing in Himachal originating from Himalayas. It enters Himachal at Shipki ( altitude = 6,608 metres ) and flows in the South-Westerly direction through Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Solan,Mandi and Bilaspur districts. Its course in Himachal Pradesh is 320 km. from Rakastal, with famous tributaries viz. the Spiti, the Ropa, the Taiti, the Kashang, the Mulgaon, the Yula, the Wanger, the Throng and the Rupi as right bank tributaries, whereas the Tirung, the Gayathing, the Baspa, the Duling and the Soldang are left bank tributaries. It leaves Himachal Pradesh to enter the plains of Punjab at Bhakhra, where the world’s highest gravity dam has been constructed on this river. Its total catchment area in Himachal Pradesh is 20,000 sq. km.The prominent human settlements that have come on the banks of the Satluj river are Namgia, Kalpa, Rampur,Tattapani, Suni and Bilaspur. Its total length is 1,448 km.
It’s very sad that today this mighty river is facing severe impact of climate change and human activities. The river which was once a thriving river in Himachal has been turned into income source for government and many individuals. People and government seems to have forgotten the river and everyone is busy making money .The river which has served our ancestors and many of our past generations is loosing the existence. The river which is flowing through ages has been destroyed in past 25–30 years ? Is this the development model we want for ourselves ?
Why Satlej is dying -
- Many Hydro power projects on Satlej. Study shows that too many hydro power projects are destroying rivers.
http://www.indiaspend.com/cover-story/small-hydropower-projects-turning-rivers-into-series-of-static-water-bodies-75255 - Uncontrolled and mostly illegal extraction of sands and rocks from riverbed for constructions is killing river.
- Rapidly changing climate is degrading the snow cover of Himalayan rivers so it has affected Satlej in a big way.
- It’s Tributaries are drying up because of climate change.
- Rising demand of power and water for irrigation.
- Ignorance of people and government towards Satlej.
- I feel government in Himachal lacks any strong policy on rivers.
Today when I see Satlej flowing it feels we are destroying the civilization . If this continues In future we will tell stories of Satlej to our grandchildren.
Satlej is one of the major river in Himachal which serves our water needs. Water shortage in this river will impact millions of people not only in Himachal but whole of North India. It will not take much time when Satlej will become a seasonal river if nothing is done to save it . We will face severe water crisis in future if not done anything. Areas such as Kinnaur , Bushahr valley and other areas near Satlej are turning into desert land because of constructions and depleting Satlej.
I have written this article to raise awareness on the current situation of Satlej. Satlej is going through a drastic change. We do have several projects in other states for saving rivers so I believe government and people in Himachal also have to think about saving its rivers. Why can’t we start projects like Namami Satlej like Namami Gange ? Satlej is like mother to us so lets work to protect this river from depleting. Everyone in Himachal have to come together for saving our rivers because DEV BHOOMI has always treated their rivers as part of their life and culture. We need to work on the revival of this river asap before it’s too late.
