Protecting the Banas at its source: A youth-led initiative

By Bharat Dogra 

The Banas River flows for over 500 km through water-scarce Rajasthan, fulfilling important ecological functions and meeting the needs of countless people. The Bisalpur Project has further extended its importance by supplying drinking water to many more people, including those in Ajmer. In its upper reaches in southern Rajasthan, nestled in the Aravalli Hills, this seasonal river has sometimes been referred to as Van ki Aas (Hope of the Forests), a reminder of its vital ecological role. The river, a tributary of the Chambal River, is also closely associated with several mythological tales that reflect an enduring recognition of its significance and the need to keep it clean and protected.

It is an indicator of the growing neglect of rivers that such an important watercourse and its surroundings had become a dumping ground for various kinds of garbage. Even more disturbing was the fact that this occurred close to its source of origin near Khamnor town. If a river becomes heavily polluted in its upper reaches, the adverse impacts are felt for a considerable distance downstream.

This situation was being watched with increasing concern by a group of young people from Khamnor, including Suresh Lohar, Pravin, Kajal, Lalita, Rajat, Deepak, Hitesh, and others. Kajal recalls, "It was really worrying to see that even diapers and sanitary napkins were being dumped in the river and its surroundings, along with all kinds of other garbage."

Suresh Lohar, who emerged as a leader of the group, said, "I had been deeply influenced by the sacrifice made by scientist G.D. Aggarwal for protecting the Ganga when I read about it. It made me think that if an elderly scientist could sacrifice his life for the cause of protecting the Ganga, then surely we younger people should do our bit to reduce pollution in a river flowing so close to our homes."

The group formed a small organization called Sarva Hith (meaning "Welfare of All"). True to its name, the organization decided that its first major initiative would be cleaning the river—a task linked to the welfare not only of people but of all forms of life. Social media was also used to raise awareness about the need to clean the river and to encourage more volunteers to join the effort.

When the clean-up campaign finally began, it was driven by enthusiasm but accompanied by many challenges. The volunteers encountered several kinds of hazardous waste, making the work difficult and unpleasant. Most of the participants, including young men and women, had no prior experience of such work. As students, they had heard about similar initiatives but had never taken part in one themselves. Nevertheless, around 22 young volunteers participated on most days during the 10-day campaign. Together, they removed more than 100 sacks of garbage from the river and its surroundings.

The impact of this effort was further strengthened by a project to create cleaner surroundings that was being implemented in Khamnor by the voluntary organization Seva Mandir. Seva Mandir appreciated and encouraged the initiative. Volunteers associated with its various programmes later joined the clean-up of the river as well as other water sources in the town and surrounding areas.

The youth group also found more supportive conditions for continuing its work because of the broader clean-town initiative. Members of Sarva Hith have since participated in campaigns to reduce polythene use and in tree-planting activities. They also joined Seva Mandir's study visits to places known for effective solid waste management, including Indore, Dungarpur, and Udaipur. These visits exposed them to new ideas and possibilities for future work.

Thus, the Sarva Hith organization has made a very promising beginning and hopes to undertake many more initiatives in the public interest. However, efforts to keep the Banas River clean need to be extended over a much wider area. It would be useful to follow up the initial campaign with surveys to identify other sites where garbage is accumulating along the river's course. If such sites are detected, timely alerts can be issued and more volunteers mobilized for clean-up efforts.

A broader movement for protecting the Banas River can be developed through greater networking and public participation, with Sarva Hith taking the lead in collaboration with Seva Mandir. Such an initiative should focus particularly on safeguarding the ecologically sensitive upper reaches of the river by preventing pollution and protecting surrounding forests. It can draw inspiration from the river's rich mythological heritage while being firmly guided by a scientific approach to conservation.

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The writer is Honorary Convener of the Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children and Planet in Peril. His website is bharatdogra.in, and his YouTube channel is Bharat Dogra Save Earth Campaign