Question: Recently scientists excavated an ancient buried river near Allahabad in UP; through which of the following towns this river had flown in the past?
(a) Manjhanpur
(b) Manikpur
(c) Kunda
(d) Kaushambi
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- A team of scientist of the Union Water Ministry has excavated an old, dried-up river in Prayagraj that linked the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
- This paleochannel has been excavated in the backdrop of increasing water crisis.
- This river flows through Manjhanpur, Saray Ankil towns of Kaushambi and south of Sirathu.
- This paleochannel reveal the course of rivers that have ceased to exist.
- The newly discovered river was a buried paleochannel that joins the Yamuna River at Durgapur village, about 26 km south of the current Ganga- Yamuna confluence at Prayagraj.
- The ancient buried river is around 4 km wide, 45 km long and consisted of a 15 meter thick layer buried under soil.
- The discovery was made by a team of scientists from CSIR-NGRI (National Geophysical Research Institute) and the Central Groundwater Board.
- This river was discovered through a helicopter borne geophysical survey covering the Prayagraj and Kaushambi region in Uttar Pradesh.
- This report concluded that evidence from paleochannel suggested that the mythological Saraswati River did indeed exist.
- Knowledge in subsurface connectivity between Ganga and Yamuna rivers will play a very crucial role in planning of Ganga cleaning and protecting safe groundwater resources.
- The genesis of the paleochannel’s discovery followed a 2016 report of a seven member committee, headed by; Professor K.S. Valdiya.