The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) recently organized the annual Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers (DHARA) meeting for members of the River Cities Alliance (RCA).

DHARA 2023 offered a platform for co-learning and discussing local water body management solutions. DHARA 2024 will be held in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

The Ghat Par Yoga session, a new Namami Gange Programme initiative, was also held on the Mulla Mutha River in Pune, with strong connections to the Urban20 (U20) program linked to India's G20 Presidency.

It was proposed that all cities should have natural fillers as part of the Catch the Rain campaign, launched on World Water Day 2021.

Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers (DHARA)

Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers (DHARA) is an initiative launched by the Indian government in 2021 with the aim to revive and rejuvenate the polluted urban rivers in the country. It is a part of the National River Conservation Plan and is being implemented in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

The DHARA program seeks to adopt a holistic and integrated approach towards the restoration of urban rivers. It involves several measures such as reducing pollution from various sources, promoting water conservation, rejuvenating wetlands, enhancing the riverfront areas, and improving the overall ecosystem of the rivers.

Under this initiative, the government plans to cover 50 urban rivers across the country, which are currently heavily polluted due to the discharge of untreated sewage, industrial waste, and other harmful substances. The program aims to improve the water quality of these rivers and make them suitable for various purposes such as bathing, boating, and other recreational activities.

DHARA also seeks to involve local communities in the restoration process and create awareness among them about the importance of preserving the natural resources. The program plans to encourage public participation in the form of volunteering, conducting cleanliness drives, and promoting eco-tourism.

The DHARA initiative has received a positive response from various stakeholders, including environmentalists, urban planners, and policymakers. It is seen as a significant step towards achieving the government's target of making India a clean and sustainable country.