Hindon revival takes centre stage at Meerut workshop

Meerut: With pollution, shrinking water flow and encroachments threatening the Hindon river ecosystem, policymakers, river experts and officials from seven districts gathered in Meerut on Thursday to chart a long-term strategy for the river’s revival.The one-day workshop, ‘Hindon Manthan-2026’, was jointly organised by the UP state clean Ganga mission and the Indian River Council. The event focused on the findings of the Hindon Nadi Shodh yatra, conducted from March 15 to 19 to assess the river’s condition and the challenges faced by communities living along its banks.Experts said the Hindon, once considered a lifeline for western UP, is grappling with multiple challenges, including water scarcity, pollution, encroachment, degradation of aquatic biodiversity and health concerns among riverside populations.The inaugural session was attended by UP jal shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh, minister of state for jal shakti Dinesh Khatik, Baghpat MP Rajkumar Sangwan, Meerut Cantonment MLA Amit Agarwal, Uttarakhand chief minister’s advisor Manu Gaur and Shobhit University Chancellor Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra.During technical sessions, river conservationists, scientists, administrative officials and representatives from Hindon basin districts -- Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar -- discussed practical measures for river rejuvenation.

Officials said the recommendations emerging from the workshop would be compiled into the ‘Meerut Declaration-2026’, which will serve as a framework for restoring the Hindon and improving the lives of communities dependent on the river.