THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Oct 11: A river flows only when its heart — the water — is alive. In Jharkhand’s Palamu district, the 23-kilometre-long Batane River has long lost its pulse, reduced to a dry, sandy bed. But a transformative effort is now underway to bring it back to life.
A rare revival mission in Palamu
Reviving a dead river in Palamu, where even minor earthwork often faces political hurdles, is nothing short of extraordinary. Two dynamic officers — Satyam Kumar of the Indian Forest Service (2015 batch) and Md Jawed Hussain of the Indian Administrative Service (2019 batch) — have taken on this daunting challenge head-on.
They have assembled a multi-departmental team drawing from Major and Minor Irrigation, MGNREGA, Biodiversity, Soil Conservation, and the Watershed Mission to ensure the Batane once again flows through its full 23 km stretch.
Deputy Commissioner of Palamu, Sameera S, has directed the two officers to go all out in reviving the Batane River.
Administrative sources said the Deputy Commissioner has thoroughly studied both the challenges and the potential of the river.
Speaking to this correspondent, DDC Md Jawed Hussain said, “Under the guidance of DC Palamu, we are working as a team on the Batane River Rejuvenation Project. We are confident that, under her leadership, our team will make this project a success.”
People at the centre of the revival effort
Both officers are convinced that river rejuvenation cannot succeed through engineering alone. “Without people’s awareness and participation, no measure can truly revive a river,” they emphasised.
Public support is steadily growing. In Chhaterpur, Naudeeha Bazar, and Harihurganj blocks — through which the Batane passes — local communities are rallying behind the initiative.
“We believe these two officers will give their all to achieve the desired result. Who wouldn’t want a fractured river to stand on its own again?” said a resident of Chhaterpur.
₹29-crore DPR submitted to NITI Aayog
A Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth ₹29 crore has already been submitted to the NITI Aayog for approval and funding. The project is expected to take two years to complete once sanctioned. Each day of implementation will bring new opportunities and challenges for the rejuvenation team.
Hydrology and habitat: the science behind the effort
For a river to spring back to life, it must sustain both surface water and groundwater reserves. Unfortunately, the Batane has been losing on both fronts — its surface water flows away as runoff, and its groundwater table continues to deplete.
Eco-engineering and plantation drives
Satyam Kumar is leading an extensive plantation drive along the Batane’s banks to stabilise soil and improve infiltration, while Md Jawed Hussain focuses on eco-engineering measures such as constructing check dams, sub-surface dykes, and stone gabions to retain and recharge water.
Deforestation and erosion: the hidden culprits
Unlike many dying rivers across India, the Batane’s decline cannot be blamed on industrial effluents — there are no chemical plants, tanneries, or factories nearby. The true causes lie in deforestation and soil erosion, which have stripped the land of its water-holding capacity.
The officers’ DPR addresses these issues comprehensively, detailing measures to reverse the ecological damage and ensure lasting rejuvenation.
42 villages place their hopes in the Batane
Residents of 42 villages along the riverbank are hopeful that the Batane will soon be reborn. For them, this is more than an environmental project — it is the revival of a shared lifeline, a source of identity and sustenance for generations.
As Palamu waits for the NITI Aayog’s approval, anticipation is building — because when a river returns to life, it brings with it the promise of renewal for the entire landscape.
