Ranchi: In April, 15-year-old Mehak Priya approached the Garhwa sub-divisional magistrate with a heartfelt plea to save the Saraswatiya river in her village from disappearing. Weeks later, that quiet appeal has grown into a rare 'people's movement' that is now slowly bringing the dying river back to life.
Instead of waiting for bureaucratic procedures, SDM Sanjay Kumar chose a different path — he turned to the people. From May 25, when the first stretch was cleared, the campaign has gathered remarkable momentum. Across the 14-km river stretch, from its origin at Meral to Garhwa town, residents have stepped in with whatever they can offer: labor, machinery, money, and even food and logistics for workers.
The signs of change are already visible. More than 5 km of the river has been reclaimed from years of encroachment, with work continuing at a war footing. 'We are not just cleaning — we are reclaiming the river's natural path so it can flow freely again,' said Kumar.
'Every day, at least five to six earthmover machines are in operation. But what is more important is that people themselves are volunteering in their localities by pooling in money and resources. Our job now is just to supervise and ensure they don't face any law and order problem,' he added.
'Sometime in April, a schoolgirl came to my office with a request to save the river that passes through her locality. Her school had given all children tasks to frame one or two questions for a government officer and submit them. However, that request forced us to think on doing something,' recalled Kumar. Days later, he shared a video of the girl through his official social media handle, expressing happiness over the ongoing cleaning exercise.
Kumar said he dipped into his own pocket to launch the initial work and then made a public appeal. What followed, he said, exceeded expectations. Schools, transporters, builders, and local groups have begun 'adopting' stretches of the river, pooling in resources to clean and restore them. 'This sense of ownership is what is driving the campaign,' he said.
The administration has complemented the public efforts with strict enforcement. Drones are being deployed for daily aerial monitoring to ensure reclaimed stretches are not encroached upon again. Simultaneously, 13 bulk waste generators have been issued showcause notices for discharging waste into the riverbed, while action has been taken against more than 100 violators for blocking the river's flow.
Kumar said that a formal government plan would have taken longer due to multiple approvals involved. 'We thought — why not let people take the lead? Through continuous public meetings, we tried to build accountability,' he said.
The impact is evident beyond the cleanup. The campaign has seen zero protests or resistance — a rarity in drives involving removal of encroachments — when community members join hands. Stay updated with the latest Ranchi news. Download the TOI App.
About the Author: ASRP Mukesh holds over 15 years of journalistic experience. He covers government, politics, and human interest stories from Jharkhand.
