Indian communities revive five “dead” rivers
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Across India, communities worked to restore five rivers, the Arvari, Kham, Sakri, Naganadhi, and Kuttemperoor, that had nearly dried up.
In Rajasthan, villagers working with Tarun Bharat Sangh built water harvesting structures to recharge groundwater, eventually allowing the Arvari River to flow again after decades. The Kham River in Maharashtra faced a different challenge, suffering from sewage and waste, so a collaboration between local government and organizations addressed pollution sources and installed waste traps.
The Sakri River in Chhattisgarh remained dry for 30 years until the Bolti Nadi initiative documented its condition and led to a restoration program involving desilting, check dams, and tree planting. In Tamil Nadu, communities revitalized the Naganadhi River by focusing on groundwater recharge through the construction of recharge wells, employing around 20,000 women through a jobs program.
Finally, residents of Kerala physically cleared years of accumulated weeds and waste from the Kuttemperoor River, restoring its flow and improving well water levels in surrounding areas. These five projects demonstrate that river restoration requires diverse strategies tailored to local conditions and a commitment to addressing the broader landscape that supports the waterway.
