Questions :

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

• whether Government of Haryana has constituted a Centre of Excellence for research on Sarasvati river;
• considering the historical and cultural significance of the Sarasvati river, the steps to be taken by Government to raise awareness among the public about the importance of this river and the research being conducted by the Centre of Excellence; and
• the specific measures and resources which will be allocated to the Centre of Excellence to ensure the successful research and preservation of the Sarasvati river, and how will these efforts be coordinated with other relevant Government departments and agencies?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

• to (c) Yes, Sir. As reported by the Government of Haryana, in the year 2017, Government of Haryana has established a Centre of Excellence for Research on the Sarasvati River (CERSR) in Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra. The mission of CERSR is to geo-scientifically characterize the paleochannels and validate the antiquity of culture and civilization nurtured by the sacred Saraswati River system of the Indian subcontinent. Initially an amount of Rs. 20 lakh was sanctioned to CERSR. At present, an annual Grant-in-Aid of Rs. 50 lakh is being provided to CERSR.

In addition, in the year 2015, Government of Haryana constituted Sarasvati Heritage Development Board. The Board has the mission to revive Sarasvati river with the mission ‘Sarasvati flows on’ and to revive its heritages on the course of Sarasvati river, raise awareness about richness and importance of Sarasvati heritage, develop tourism, cultural corridor, construct/development of water bodies and support the research documents, compile research papers, publications of journals, monographs and reports etc. pertaining to Sarasvati river and its heritages on the Palaeochannel.

The Sarasvati Heritage Development Board undertakes following specific activities to raise awareness among public:

• The Board celebrates Sarasvati Mahotsav every year on the eve of Basant Panchami;
• The Board organize international conferences and seminars every year in collaboration with reputed universities and colleges; and
• A chapter on Sarasvati Indus civilization has been incorporated in the curriculum of class
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