River Rejuvenation by Mobilising Governments, Saints and Society
Your river has had plans, budgets and clean-up drives for years, and it is still dying. Government, temples and citizens each wait for someone else to move first.
Yamuna, Delhi, 2023–25. I stopped clean-up drives that changed nothing and turned 36,000 cadets from 550 schools and colleges into Yamuna Rakshaks. In February 2025 the Prime Minister called the Yamuna “Maa”, and the new Delhi Cabinet’s first official event was a Yamuna aarti.
Godavari, 2026 onwards. The river is 1,465 km long and crosses three states. The Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister began implementing my strategy on 25 May 2026, and the Mayor of Nashik followed a week later.
Teeparru village, 2026. It was selected as India’s first Pushkaralu Model Village. Residents asked TadEkam Foundation for their Chintalamma Pond to be cleaned, and it was, for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Government, saints and citizens move together. A campaign run by cadets reached the Vice President, the Delhi Chief Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs, and then the Prime Minister’s own words. On the Godavari, a Deputy Chief Minister and a Mayor each acted within a week.
People ask for the work. In Teeparru, the villagers themselves asked for the pond to be cleaned. The river stops being the government’s job and becomes the village’s.
Other rivers can follow. Teeparru is a working pilot, with the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute as scientific partner. It is designed for other rivers with Kumbh and Pushkaralu festivals to follow.
State governments and municipal corporations responsible for a river or lake. Kumbh and Pushkaralu committees, temple trusts, akharas and maths. Corporate ESG and CSR teams funding water. Tourism departments of pilgrim towns. Universities and research institutes working on rivers.
Advisory or strategy director for a river-basin or festival programme. Initiate an Advisory Engagement.
Seva partnership with a government, trust or CSR team. Discuss a Seva Partnership.
Keynote or briefing for a Kumbh or Pushkaralu committee. Book a Speaking Engagement.
The Nashik Kumbh and the Godavari Pushkaralu fall in 2026–2028, so planning has to start now.