Raipur, 16 May 2021. Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has said that Jeevadayini Arpa river is the pride of Chhattisgarh, not only of Bilaspur. This river is associated with our cultural identity. The first word of the state song is also dedicated to the river Arpa. He said that the state government has taken several steps from time to time to revive and make Arpa flowy and we will continue to do everything possible for it. In a virtual program held at his residence office here today, the Chief Minister expressed his views to this effect while laying the foundation stone for Arpa upliftment and water conservation work at a cost of Rs 93 crore 70 lakh in Bilaspur. The program was presided over by Home Minister and Minister in-charge of the district Mr. Tamradhwaj Sahu. Home Minister and Minister of Urban Administration and Development Department Dr. Shivkumar Dahria virtually joined the program as a special guest.
The Chief Minister said that we have an emotional attachment to Arpa. To revive Arpa, the Arpa Rescue Movement was launched and Pad Yatras were also undertaken. The Chief Minister said that he himself and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Dr. Charandas Mahant had also participated in these posts. The dreams of the people of Bilaspur about Arpa, the works which people have been waiting for a long time, are starting to come true with the foundation stone of this project.
The Chief Minister said that 1.80 km of four-lane modern road will be made from Indira Setu to Shani Chari Rapta on both sides of the river under the Arpa Upliftment and Coast Promotion Scheme. This will enable the city’s traffic to be operated in a smooth manner. From Nehru Chowk, the city dwellers will get an orderly alternative route to go towards the city’s busiest Gol Bazaar-Sadar Bazaar and Shaniachari Bazaar, while people will also get additional route to reach these places towards Sarakanda. In this project, along with dividers in the fourlane road on both sides of the river, beautification will also be done. Apart from this, attractive street and solar lights will also be installed throughout the length of the road. Under this project, the work of removing frozen silt in the Arpa river will also be started. Due to which the water level of Bilaspur will be recharged. Peripheral streams will be built on both sides of the road to prevent contamination of Arpa water, The dirty water of the city will be transported from the pumping station to the sewerage treatment plant and clean water will be released into the river. This will save Arpa from contamination to a great extent. This work includes the upliftment of Arpa as well as the work of coast enrichment. In which there is also a plan to develop a garden on both sides of the river by pitching work on the coast and scrapping beautiful land on the land adjacent to the coast.
Mr. Baghel said that today the entire country is facing the Corona crisis. In the second wave, Chhattisgarh has also posed serious challenges. Together we all managed to control Corona to a great extent. In April, the infection rate had reached 30 percent in Chhattisgarh, which has now come down to only 11 percent. Vaccination work is being done rapidly in the entire state. Even after vaccination, we should not forget the precautions like masks and social distancing. We have also faced economic challenges in this crisis, but the state government has not compromised with the plans to improve the lives of the people. Many such construction works, including the new Raj Bhavan and the new CM House, have been stalled in Nava Raipur with a view to austerity. Which can be completed later.
Presiding over the program, Home Minister Shri Tamradhwaj Sahu said that Chief Minister Mr. Baghel has given many gifts to Bilaspur. Bilaspur airport started. The airport was named after Bilasa Devi Kentwin. Despite Corona’s challenges, public interest schemes are being successfully operated. He hoped to complete the works of Arpa Utthan and Coast Promotion Scheme in a time-bound manner with good quality. Urban Administration Minister Dr. Shiv Kumar Dahria said that the work of two barrages at Shivghat and Pachri Ghat has been started under the works of conservation of Arpa river. He said that for the provision of drinking water in Bilaspur city, works worth Rs. 20 crores as provided in this year’s budget will be started soon. On this occasion, Parliamentary Secretary Mrs. Rashmi Ashish Singh, MLA Mr. Shailesh Pandey,
The Chief Minister congratulated the residents of Bilaspur city on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of this scheme. Member of Parliament Mr. Arun Saw, Parliamentary Secretary Mrs. Rashmi Ashish Singh, Mayor Mr. Ramsharan Yadav, MLA Mr. Shailesh Pandey, District Panchayat President Mr. Arun Singh Chauhan, Chairman of the Corporation as Guest of Honor Mr. Sheikh Naziruddin and Mr. Atal Shrivastava, Commissioner Bilaspur Mr. Sanjay Alang were present. The event featured a video presentation on the Arpa Coast Promotion.
Collector Mr. Summary Mittar said in the welcome address that in future the facilities of water sports, boating etc. will also be expanded along the banks developed in the river banks. The much awaited Arpa upliftment and water conservation work will prove to be a milestone in the development of the state along with Bilaspur. Municipal Corporation Bilaspur Commissioner Shri Ajay Tripathi proposed a vote of thanks.
