Nexus of Good: Holistic rejuvenation

One third of the population of Lucknow — state capital of Uttar Pradesh — gets its drinking water supply from river Gomti. Nearly all the Lucknowites enjoy the view of the majestic Gomti riverfront. But how many have given a serious thought about the health of the river dying a slow death? And how many are even aware of the quiet origin of this tributary of river Ganga from the Fulhar lake in the beautiful district of terai – Pilibhit?

As a groundwater-fed river from the Gomat taal, or Fulhar jheel, in Madhotanda Panchayat of Pilibhit District, the river travels a distance of around 960 km in the state before meeting river Ganga at Saidpur in Ghazipur district.

The journey in the district of origin is only about 47 km before the river silently enters the neighbouring Shahjahanpur District. In this initial course, the river Gomti passes through 16 gram panchayats. However, this entire stretch was marred with obstacles. The flow was highly intermittent and patchy.

When Pulkit Khare, a young District Magistrate of Pilibhit, took up the rejuvenation, there was no semblance of a river. Encroachments, siltation, growth of weeds and lack of ownership were the major problems to begin with. A plan was chalked out to tackle each issue in a holistic manner.

A gram panchayat-wise map was prepared for all these 16 gram panchayats by combining the traditional wisdom and the available revenue records. Village-level functionaries were taken on board and a meeting with lekhpal and village secretary was held for each Gram Panchayat to identify the issue as well as the pathway for solution.

After identifying the silted stretches and encroached patches in every village, a meeting of Gram Pradhans and all other village level functionaries was called by the District Magistrate. An emotional appeal was made to one and all. Support and ownership of the project was sought to revive their own “dying mother”.

A mega-project from MGNREGA scheme was designed, whereby work was to proceed simultaneously in all 16 gram panchayats. Labourers were identified in each village. Getting sufficient numbers of labourers for the mega project was also a challenge, as the desired rejuvenation (widening and deepening) work had to be completed before the monsoons. Choupals were held in villages to enlist labourers and issue muster rolls. They were told to get associated with this project to garner blessings of ‘Maa Gomti’ from this noble work of rejuvenation.

Finally, the Gomti river rejuvenation work started simultaneously in all 16 gram panchayats. Labourers and villagers thronged in numbers to see the work in action. The joy was palpable. However, it began to ebb from the very fourth day itself.

A WhatsApp group had been constituted to get photographs of work and the number of labourers employed on work sites from each gram panchayat on a daily basis. The number of labourers turning up at the work site started falling from the fourth day. This was worrisome. Consistency was needed for timely finishing the project. It was time to rethink the strategy. This was when the idea of padyatra (foot-march) struck Pulkit Khare. He announced that he would himself travel the entire length of the river course to see the quality of work. Each day, he and a team of few officials would travel a few kilometers to inspect the quality of work of Gomti river rejuvenation. He travelled a few kilometers each day talking to pradhan, village functionaries and villagers who joined in hourly inspection-cum-walk along the course of the river. He could not only see the quality of work and the challenges first hand, but could also gather a lot many solutions from the local wisdom of the villagers. Each day, the padyatra would begin from where it culminated the previous day.

Labour turnout also improved as the village functionaries held choupals in villages to convince villagers about the sanctity of this pious work, despite prevailing higher daily wage rates for manual labour.

Ensuring sustainability

As the problems identified were recurring in nature, elements of sustainability were essentially introduced as part of the project. Labourers were given details of the slope profile expected to be achieved during the work of rejuvenation to enable a healthy gradient for maintaining the river flow.

Simultaneously, the identified 513 farmers having fields adjoining the river Gomti were also trained in methods of natural farming to reduce chemical pesticides and fertilizers run-off falling into the river. Pumps were discouraged in these fields while trenching was encouraged.

Krishnaswamy, a renowned hydrologist, was taken on board as advisor for this rejuvenation project by the administration, as he could provide technical advice as a specialist about the sustainability of this project. He advised that reducing the run-off from fields would help in controlling the growth of weeds, which had arrested the river flow for a significant length.

Survey was also done to ensure that no drains or industrial waste empty themselves into the river at any point during its course in the district. Grass-carp, a variety of fish, was also introduced throughout the river to discourage the weeding process and strengthen the element of sustainability.

High banks of silt from deepening and widening were soon piling up. This would have fallen back into the river to nullify the rejuvenation efforts. Their timely removal from the site to flatten the banks was essential. On other hand, there have been water-logging complaints from several government schools demanding silt for fill-up of their grounds. Both the issues were inter-linked. Each village secretary was given a list of nearest schools with such a requirement and, simultaneously, tractors were dispatched from sites to deliver filler for school grounds. These schools would not suffer from water-logging this season and children would have better times in these grounds in times to come.

23 ponds lying along the course of the river in the river basin were also identified from the revenue records. They were demarcated, widened, stepped and deepened to ensure maximum possible rain water harvest.

Incorporating ownership & developing a tourist circuit

Simultaneously, a suitable place was also identified in each gram panchayat for construction of ghat with steps. 16 ghats in these 16 gram panchayats now hold daily morning yoga classes and the evening Gomti aarti for villagers by the edge of the river. Management committees have been formed in all these villages. Their regular meetings have started to maintain the portion of the river flowing through their village.

Signages were also erected along the route of the river. Some prominent landmarks like the Triveni Ghat, Gomti Gurudwara and Ekhotarnath Temple were identified which are now being highlighted as part of Gomti tourist circuit.

The ‘udgam sthal’ or the origin pond has also been developed over the past year into a tourist destination. Facilities of boating, eatery, entertainment for children and a regular Gomti aarti in the evening enthralls the tourist in this scenic place surrounded by sal forests.

The belongingness and ownership towards the river increased. 51 days later, the 47-km stretch was covered. At the same time, an average of 2,800 people got daily employment under MGNREGA. Most importantly, the river now stands rejuvenated.

River Gomti now proudly runs clean and continuous in district Pilibhit: from the Gomti ‘udgam sthal’ to the border of the district.

What Pulkit Khare and his dedicated team have achieved is truly remarkable and in the true spirit of Nexus of Good. Almost all the rivers face a similar problem. There are huge lessons for other districts, as the approach can easily be replicated and scaled.

Views expressed are personal