Chautang Cleanup Drive Begins. - HIRD Director Dr. Chauhan urges Citizens to remove illegal encroachments

Nilokheri, June 27, 2026: Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD), stated that conserving the Chautang—considered a remnant of the ancient Drishadvati river—is our cultural and moral responsibility. With this objective, the cleanup of the Chautang river has commenced from Butana village and will proceed in phases to reach Nilokheri in the coming days. He remarked that the rejuvenation of the Chautang would give a new identity to the region's ancient heritage and enable future generations to connect with their glorious history.

Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan instructed officials and concerned departments to ensure the cleanup work is executed with high quality and transparency, and completed within the stipulated time frame. He emphasized the need for effective cleaning of every section of the river so that it could be developed into a clean and attractive heritage site in the future.

HIRD Director Dr. Chauhan directed Irrigation Department officials to immediately initiate the necessary paperwork for demarcating the boundaries to remove illegal encroachments along the eastern bank of the Chautang in Nilokheri. He appealed to the concerned citizens to come forward and voluntarily remove the encroachments on the bank.

He noted that the Irrigation Department, the Saraswati Board, and the Municipal Committee could collaboratively develop the urban stretch of the Drishadvati into Nilokheri’s most beautiful, scenic, and spiritually significant site. However, this process must begin with the removal of encroachments; if city residents undertake this task themselves for the betterment of their town, it would set a unique example.

Dhumman Singh Kirmach, Vice-Chairman of the Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board, stated that the systematic cleanup marks the first step toward conserving the Drishadvati, which is described in Vedic texts as a major tributary of the Saraswati. Following this, a comprehensive plan for the conservation and rejuvenation of this ancient heritage site can be formulated, paving the way for its development into a key center for public awareness and tourism.

Sandeep Sharma, a Junior Engineer with the Irrigation Department, stated that the cleaning of the Chautang River has commenced from Samana village. The department is executing the work rapidly using machinery and necessary resources. He added that, according to the planned schedule, the cleaning drive will reach Nilokheri in the coming days, and the work will be completed with a focus on quality.