Question: Who headed the Committee formed to find the existence of the river ‘Saraswati’?
(a) Prof. Madhav Chitale
(b) Prof. K.S. Valdiya
(c) Prof. A.K Valdiya
(d) Prof. Deepak Bhadoria
Ans: (b)
Reference:
- On 15 October 2016 Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharati released a Report on Palaeo Channel of North West India(In particular the existence of river Saraswati): Review & Assessment by Expert Committee.
- The seven-member committee, headed by Professor K.S. Valdiya of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR).
- According to a senior Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Saraswati passed through Pakistan before meeting Western Sea through Rann of Kutch and was approximately 4,000 km in length.
- One-third of the river stretch fell in present-day Pakistan. The longer, two-third stretch measuring nearly 3000 km in length fell in India.
- This river was once upon a time the lifeline of North-Western states of India and a vibrant series of civilizations from Mahabharata period to Harappa had flourished on the banks of this river.
- In its report, the seven-member committee has stated that the river had two branches: western and eastern.
- The Himalayan-born Satluj “of the PAST”, which flowed through the channels of present-day Ghaggar-Patialiwali rivulets, represents the western branch of the ancient river.
- Whereas, Markanda and Sarsuti (corruption of Saraswati) represented the western branch of Saraswati, known as Tons-Yamuna.
- During its six-month research period, the committee studied piles of sediments, their shapes and features which appeared to have been brought by a “big river” and are reminiscent to ones found in present-day Ghaggar, Ganga and Yamuna.
Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=151687
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/saraswati-river-did-exist-govt-constituted-expert-committee-116101500558_1.html
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-panel-of-experts-says-river-saraswati-did-exist/article9224818.ece