Ranchi: A team from the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) arrived in the city on Thursday to conduct an extensive field study and site inspections of various rivers and water bodies within the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) area. This survey follows the selection of Ranchi as one of 60 cities across the Ganga Basin designated to develop an Urban River Management Plan (URMP) under the ‘Namami Gange’ programme.The URMP is designed to ensure the comprehensive conservation and restoration of all water bodies within RMC limits. The plan will prioritise the rejuvenation of the Harmu river, the urban stretches of the Subarnarekha River, and the city’s major lakes and ponds.This management framework is currently being crafted by the NIUA and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), with technical and financial support provided by the World Bank.Following the field inspections, a meeting of the multi-stakeholder working group was convened under the chairmanship of municipal commissioner Sushant Gaurav. During the proceedings, Gaurav said, “Active involvement of both govt departments and the general public is vital for maintaining the city’s ecological balance. Sustainable preservation of these water bodies relies heavily on fostering positive shifts in human behaviour.”
