KS Valdiya led expert committee finds Saraswati River did exist

Report on Palaeo Channel of North West India: Review & Assessment by Expert Committee was released by Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharati on 15 October 2016.

The report prepared by a seven-member committee headed by Prof KS Valdiya, eminent Geologist suggests that the Saraswati River was not mythical and it existed.

Highlights of the Report

• The report is based on the study of the land texture of states of North-West India including- Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab.
• It is based on the account of the geological changes that had occurred in the past.

• The report is an assertion of the assumption that River Saraswati originated from Adibadri in Himalaya to culminate in the Arabian Sea through the Runn of Kutch.

• It was approximately 4000 km in length of which about 3000 kilometer fell in India while the remaining 1000 kilometer fell in present-day Pakistan.

• It had two branches, namely

a) Western Branch: It is represented by the Himalayan-born Satluj River of the past that flowed through the channels of present-day Ghaggar-Patialiwali rivulets.

b) Eastern Branch: Sarsuti and Markanda rivulets in Haryana represented the western branch of River, known as Tons-Yamuna.

• In the six-month research, the committee came across a Palaeo channel - a path abandoned by river when it changes its course – related to present Ghaggar, Sarsuti, Hakra and Nara Rivers.

• It suggested that nearly 1700 small and big villages and towns were located around the palaeo channel (during Harappa Civilisation).

Now, the report will be studied by the Central Ground Water Board as well as the Experts in Ministry of Water Resources for its optimum use. The report will be submitted before the Cabinet also for further action.

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