A dead river begins to flow again

This weekend, I visited Vellore to inspire a group of volunteers who are creating a revolution in the lives of farmers in Tamil Nadu. I am delighted to share that their dedicated efforts to rejuvenate the Naganadhi River have started to pay rich dividends. The once dying river has started to flow again. The work has brought immense relief to the water-thirsty population of the area. Wells which were dry for years are now holding water, groundwater is getting recharged. Water is available at depth of only 12 feet bringing to farmers the power of cultivating the crops of their choice. It was a joy to see the people happy and full of hope as water has returned to their lands. 

This massive transformation has come through with the committed efforts of volunteers working with the Art of Living’s Palar River Rejuvenation Project. The Naganadhi River is a primary tributary of the Palar River. Once the lifeline of Vellore villages, the river went dry 15 years ago. Despite the effort of farmers to grow low-water-use crops such as millet, tomato, groundnut and banana, returns from the barren land were too low to sustain them. In 2014 Naganadhi River Rejuvenation team designed a model to revive the river in a systematic and scientific manner. Three important steps were taken simultaneously. While there was a campaign to boost the confidence of villagers, using remote sensing and satellite maps our team prepared the plans for the catchment area of the river.

With civil society participation 3,145 recharge structures across 19 panchayats have been built in the area. These structures ensure flow of the water into the aquifers.

They built 3,145 recharge structures across 19 panchayats in the area. These structures ensure the flow of the water into the aquifers. To hold the water, hundreds of hardy, drought-resistant saplings have been planted around and across the river basin.

The amazing results of the work done by river rejuvenation project have not only brought solace to the people of the region but have also reaffirmed that cost-effective and sustainable solutions are available to counter India’s looming water crisis. 

The Art of Living river rejuvenation and water management projects are being carried out with the participation of civil society, government and experts from fields of water resource management, remote sensing, geo-hydrology, agriculture, and horticulture. In the Nagnadhi project, women of the area played a significant role and contributed at all stages of the restoration of the river. In the process, they have also augmented their own income. 

Despite massive industrialization post Independence, India continues to remain an agrarian economy with an estimated 65 percent of the population depending on farmland for sustenance. Water for irrigation has a direct bearing on not just the survival of rural India but also plays a decisive role in the country’s food security. 

With 54% of India facing high to extremely high water stress, there is an urgent need for a concerted and coordinated action plan for water management. To this end, we are working in many parts of India to conserve water and the environment. Forty-two rivers and tributaries in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala and thousands of water bodies across India are being revived. Even the smallest of the water body should be saved and not allowed to die.

For long term sustainability of efforts to alleviate water poverty, the measures to revive and harness the sources of water supply have to be coupled with mass awareness campaigns to ensure that our rivers and all water bodies are kept clean. We must refrain from dumping waste and pollutants into the rivers. Traditionally, rivers are revered and worshipped in India. Yet, we have been desecrating them without any thought to the consequences.

People in cities too need to take up water management at their individual level. Rainwater harvesting can go a long way in addressing the paucity of water in cities. The inspiring role played by the rural women at the Naganadhi river basin is an invitation to all to create a mass movement for water conservation and management.