Shimla, Sep 4 - Himachal Pradesh will be soon included in the National River Conservation Programme, an official statement said Friday.

'The centre has agreed to include Himachal Pradesh in the National River Conservation Programme. For this, a proposal for the Yamuna river would be submitted,' the statement quoted Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as saying.

Dhumal, who met central Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh in New Delhi, said the inclusion of the hill state in the river conservation programme is important as many of the rivers in northern states originate from it.

State Environment Minister J.P. Nadda also raised the issue at a meeting of environment and forest ministers in New Delhi Aug 18.

Himachal Pradesh has abundant water resources with five major rivers flowing down the slopes of the Himalayas.