Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Heval River revival in Tehri Garhwal on 25 October 2026. He spoke in the 139th episode of his radio programme, Mann Ki Baat. According to the PM, villagers and the local administration jointly saved the drying river. As a result, dozens of natural water sources also came back to life.
What PM Modi Said in Mann Ki Baat
First, the PM said, “Some time ago, the water level in the Heval river began to decline.” Also, natural water sources in the area were drying up. So, officials and villagers launched a joint campaign. They captured rainwater, recharged groundwater and planted many trees. Today, he said, “the Heval river has been revitalized.”
Scale of the Rejuvenation Work
ETV Bharat reported that the campaign treated 126 springs, 28 streams and 16 recharge zones. Moreover, workers built 1,58,572 water conservation and storage structures. They also planted 20.62 lakh native, water-supporting saplings. In fact, the approach combined springshed and watershed management with forest management.
The Officer Behind the Heval Model
IFS officer Dharam Singh Meena, of the 2009 Uttarakhand batch, led the work. Notably, the National Institute of Hydrology and IIT Roorkee were partners. Later, he won an Eco Warrior Award 2026 for restoring springs and streams. He said, “I had in my mind that forest conservation and forest management should be water-centric.”
State Response and Wider Use
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the recognition. He said the state aims to turn water conservation into a people’s movement. Also, officials say the state is now applying the Heval model in other areas.
About the Heval (Henwal) River
Hindi papers call it the Henwal. The river rises at Kaddukhal, near the Surkanda Devi temple in Chamba. It flows for about 38 km and merges into the Ganga at Shivpuri. Importantly, about 80 villages around Chamba town get drinking water from it.
Heval River Revival: Key Facts for Revision
- Mentioned in: 139th Mann Ki Baat, 25 October 2026
- District: Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand
- Course: Kaddukhal (near Surkanda Devi) to the Ganga at Shivpuri, about 38 km
- Work done: 126 springs, 28 streams, 16 recharge zones treated
- Structures and plants: 1,58,572 structures; 20.62 lakh saplings
- Lead officer: IFS Dharam Singh Meena
Why Heval River Revival Matters for UKPSC
Notably, drying springs threaten drinking water across the hills. So, remember the river’s course, the spring count and the lead officer. Also, link this model with the state’s push for scientific spring revival. For official updates, also visit the PM India Mann Ki Baat page. Next, for a related story, read about SARA’s One District One River plan. You can also download our free Uttarakhand Current Affairs magazine.
So, are you preparing for the UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 prelims? Then join our UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series for regular practice.