When the ancient epics talked about the legendary Hercules diverting the course of a river, no one expected Indian villages to outdo them. Yet, this village in Kerala just managed to resurrect a river that’s been deteriorating over the last 10 years. The situation had reached a point where contaminants and weeds managed to stop boats mid-stream—firefighters were needed to rescue those trapped on board.
Thus, the river lay stagnant, useless as both, a mode of transport and a source of water. However, the villagers of Budhanoor, a small village in the Alappuzha district, refused to let Kuttemperoor River die a slow death. Armed with 700 labourers, employed under the MGNREGA scheme, the village went to work for the next 70 days. After pulling out the weeds that restricted movement, to removing plastic waste, and unearthing an entire layer of plastic and clay sediment waste at the bottom of the river, the villagers finally saw signs of life, again.
What was once a source of irrigation and drinking water, was miraculously flowing in all its glory, a whole decade later. Reshmi Priya, head clerk at the Budhanoor Panchayat office, said, “The extent of joy we felt when a boat took people for a tour after the revival of the river, is something we can’t explain. A river that didn’t even have enough water to be called by the name, it was an impossible dream transformed into reality.”
If a seemingly irreparable river could be restored to life, then the many rivers in India that are deteriorating owing to pollutants and negligence, can also be revived. Initiatives like this could help parts of our country that are currently facing severe water scarcity—or perhaps, inspire others.
Feature Image Credit—The Quint
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