Saraswati revival mission gains momentum; Rajasthan forms panel
With the support from the HSHDB, the Rajasthan govt formed a dedicated advisory panel on June 18 to work on the reservation and revival of the Saraswati river in the state. The committee includes representatives from key institutions, including ISRO and the state's water resources department. The initiative gained traction after a meeting at ISRO's Birla Institute in Jaipur on April 28, where HSHDB vice-chairman Dhuman Singh Kirmach met Rajasthan's irrigation minister Suresh Rawat, officials from the water resources department, and scientists from ISRO.
The HSHDB proposed collaborative work to reintroduce water flow to parts of Rajasthan through the ancient Saraswati system. Acting on the proposal, Rajasthan has committed to work in tandem with the HSHDB.
Meanwhile, the HSHDB intensified its efforts in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. It began comprehensive geo-archaeological and hydrological studies of the Tons river, a major glacier-fed stream originating from Bandarpunch glacier near Dehradun in Uttarakhand.
Historical and scientific evidence suggests that the Tons river may have been a key tributary of the mythical Saraswati river described in the Rigveda.
Kirmach recently visited Dakpathar barrage near Dehradun, where the Tons river merges with the Yamuna. Data is being collected from revenue records and scientific surveys, including inputs from geologists, hydrologists, and paleo-channel researchers.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) and other institutes have also expressed interest in the study, particularly the suggestion that the Tons river may have originally flowed westward into the ancient Saraswati system before tectonic shifts diverted it towards the Yamuna.
Kirmach claimed that according to multidisciplinary research, including satellite imagery, geomorphological studies, and ancient texts, the Tons river, along with glacier-fed streams like Pabar, Rupin, and Supin, were once integral part of the Saraswati system.
He further said the archaeological and hydrological data pointed towards a scenario in which rivers such as the Yamuna and Sutlej were part of the Saraswati system until 10,000-16,000 years ago.
The HSHDB already demonstrated success in Haryana, where water was channeled through a 400-kilometre stretch from Adi Badri at the Himachal border to the Ottu headworks near Rajasthan border by connecting seasonal rivers during the monsoon.
The goal is to expand this revival from the glacier source in Uttarakhand all the way through Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and finally to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
As part of ongoing efforts, Kirmach also held discussions with researchers at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Group Captain Shukla has completed all seven microgravity experiments onboard ISS: ISRO
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is headed back to earth after an 18-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS), has completed all seven microgravity experiments. 'Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla has successfully completed all seven microgravity experiments and other planned activities, achieving a significant milestone in the mission. Experiments on Indian strain of Tardigrades, Myogenesis, Sprouting of methi and moong seeds, Cyanobacteria, Microalgae, Crop seeds and Voyager Display have been completed as planned,' ISRO said on Monday (July 14, 2025). Group Captain Shukla is the first Indian to reach space in the last 41 years. ISRO had assigned to him several microgravity research experiments proposed by Indian Principal Investigators (PIs) from various national R&D laboratories and academic institutions. During his stay in ISS, Group Captain Shukla also spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had a couple of interactions with the student community back home via ham radio. The Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe. NASA has said that the Dragon spacecraft is returning with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted during the mission.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Shubhanshu Shukla completes 7 experiments: Isro
BENGALURU: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has completed all seven microgravity experiments and other planned activities, 'achieving a milestone in the mission', Isro said a few hours after Shukla undocked from the International Space Station (ISS). 'Experiments on Indian strain of tardigrades, myogenesis, sprouting of methi & moong seeds, cyanobacteria, microalgae, crop seeds and voyager display have been completed as planned,' Isro said. Union minister Jitendra Singh posted on X: 'Welcome back Shubhanshu! The entire nation eagerly awaits your arrival back home…as you begin your return journey, after successful undocking of Axiom4.' SatCom Industry Association (SIA) director-general Anil Prakash said Shukla's mission wasn't just a milestone. '...It heralds India's leap into the space-biotech frontier. As India's first astronaut on the ISS, he spearheaded seven Isro-backed microgravity experiments, laying the first steps toward orbit-based, self-sustaining life-support systems,' he said. He added that the mission showcases a powerful public–private partnership, transforming space research into sustainable biotech innovation.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Shubhanshu Shukla returning to Earth soon. Here's a recap of his 18 days onboard ISS
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has begun his journey back to Earth from space, marking a significant phase in the country's space program. Shukla, was the second Indian to have travelled to space, succeeding Rakesh Sharma in 1984. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, with Shukla and three other astronauts on the Axiom-4 Mission, undocked from the Harmony module of International Space Station (ISS) approximately 7.05 am EDT (4.35 pm IST) on Monday. The splashdown off the coast of California, US, is expected at 5.30 am EDT (3 PM IST) on Tuesday. As his space expedition concludes, here's a recap of his 18-day-long journey onboard ISS. On Sunday, the eve of the commencement of the Axiom-4 crew's return journey to Earth, Shukla evoked fellow astronaut Rakesh Sharma's line during the 1984 space odyssey and said today's India still looks 'saare Jahan se acha' and added 'India looks ambitious from space, today's India looks fearless, today's India looks confident, today's India looks full of pride.' During the farewell speech along with fellow astronauts, he said, 'Our journey ahead into space exploration may be long and arduous, but it has begun.' Shukla, who conducted experiments on space microalgae, was live for the second and final time on ham radio on July 8 and remarked it was a privilege to be amongst the few who have had the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point. In a video posted on X handle, Shukla highlighted the significance of the mission and how it was expanding access to low Earth orbit (LEO) for countries to achieve their space exploration goals, leading to advancements for Earth. He also said how physical fitness is key to astronauts while at the ISS and that the orbiting observatory offers a mini gym for the astronauts. Shukla shared that his body, too, faced space sickness soon after reaching the ISS. As Shukla called V Narayanan, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, he acknowledged the efforts of team ISRO in ensuring his safe travel to ISS. While Narayanan expressed his keen interest in Shukla's well-being, he shared updates on the progress of the experiments and activities carried out on the space station. In his first interaction with students from Thiruvananthapuram and Lucknow on ham radio on July 4, Shukla had a light-hearted conversation with the students he and narrated how difficult it was to sleep — not just because he was in space but owing to the excitement and wanting to do more and more experiments. Shukla, who showed students his sleeping bag, said, 'I am doing a lot of experiments and these are challenging and exciting. All of these experiments have been planned by ISRO-NASA. But there are a few that I particularly like, especially the one on stem cells. We know there is limited time (onboard the ISS) but we want to do more and more (experiments). But we need to get rest to do the experiments.' Before that, his smiling photographs emerged from the cupola or the Earth-viewing vantage point and the Indian Air Force's (IAF) test pilot reiterated that looking back at the earth was beautiful and that it was an amazing experience. Three days after Shukla ventured into space along with three other astronauts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with him and Shukla aka Shux discussed everything from pride he took in putting up the national flag on ISS, experiments onboard ISS, challenges of living in microgravity, in detail. PM Modi said he is close to the heart of his countrymen. 'Your name has the word 'shubh' in it and your journey is the 'shubharambh' of a new age,' he said. The Air Force Group Captain also informed the Prime Minister that he had shared the 'gajar ka halwa', 'moong daal halwa', and 'aamras' with his fellow astronauts. 'I wanted others to taste and experience the rich culinary heritage of India. And they really enjoyed it,' he said. Pilot Shukla — along with the commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary — entered the ISS on June 25. The Axiom-4 mission carrying the astronauts lifted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Centre, after facing several delays due to technical problems, inclement weather, and a leak on the ISS. Themed 'Realise the Return', this is the first stint of the astronauts from three countries on the ISS. More than a month before the expedition, Shukla's family in Lucknow had an unusual company for dinner: Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe and he narrated everything on the space journey to his parents, alleviating their fears. Over a three-course dinner that lasted 3-4 hours at a hotel in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar, Stibbe — who was part of the historic Axiom-1 (Ax-1) mission to the ISS in 2022 – told Shukla's parents Shambhu Dayal Shukla and Asha, and sister Suchi, everything they needed to know: how astronauts lived, what they ate, how they slept, what they did, and how they spent their time at the ISS.
